History:
In 1776, Fr. Junipero Serra founded his seventh mission as a halfway point between San Diego and San Gabriel. San Juan Capistrano was built for the purpose of ministering to the Juaneño Indians who lived in this area. In the early twentieth century, Fr. John O’Sullivan was responsible for restoring this mission to its former glory and making it the spectacular place it is today, thus earning it the nickname “The Jewel of the Missions.”
Patron Saint:
Giovanni Chiori was born in 1386 in Capistrano, Italy. He was a renowned judge in Naples but later entered the Franciscan order and was even more renowned for his preaching. In 1456, he fought off the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Mohamed II, at the Siege of Belgrade, and was thus given the nickname “The Soldier Saint.” He is the patron saint of jurists.
Distinctives:
-The Great Stone Church, which was built between 1797-1806 and was the largest building in California at the time, was destroyed in an earthquake in 1812. The ruins still remain here and are known as the “American Acropolis.” Today, it is designated as one of the world’s top 100 most endangered places.
-The chapel, constructed in 1782, is the oldest building in California still in use, and the only remaining mission chapel in which Fr. Serra actually conducted mass.
-The swallows! This is what San Juan Capistrano is most famous for. The swallows fly south for the winter to Argentina, but in the summer they take a one-month, 3000-mile trek up north, and SJC is their final destination! They arrive on St. Joseph’s Day (March 19). A famous song in honor of this event was composed by Leon René in 1939 called “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.”
-On an exterior wall of the mission, look for the exhibit showing the cattle brands of all 21 missions! That certainly is a unique display.
-The “criolla,” or mission grape, was first planted here in 1779. The city of SJC was the site of the first vineyard and winery in California.
-Next door to the mission (separate entrance) is the huge modern-day basilica where worship services are conducted. It is modeled after the Great Stone Church.
-The city of San Juan Capistrano has the oldest residential neighborhood in California. The first novel about Zorro, The Curse of Capistrano, was set in this city.
-There is another San Juan Capistrano mission in San Antonio, Texas.
My Opinion:
What can I say—hands down the best mission in California. Breathtakingly gorgeous, it has several lush courtyards and many educational exhibits to explore. It is the only mission which gives you an audioguide, and will probably take you longer to see than any other mission (excluding La Purísima, but that doesn’t count because it’s now an extensive state park). The beauty and fame of this mission is only dimmed by the admission price—at $9, it’s twice as expensive as the next most expensive mission! But all worth it, I suppose… I’ll definitely be back! (not to mention, I have yet to see the swallows!)
Ranking: #1 / 21