Of San Antonio's five missions, San Juan Capistrano, named for the 15th-century Franciscan friar and theologian, is perhaps the most unusual in appearance
with its intimate chapel sanctuary and its distinctive belfry of triple arches set along the length of an exterior wall, rather than perpendicular to it.
Established in 1731, the mission’s church and most of its buildings were completed by 1756.
A $2.2 million overhaul of Mission San Juan Capistrano revived the once-beleaguered church whose shifting foundation had caused severe cracks and falling plaster.
The white exterior, designed to replicate the original appearance, now makes San Juan unique among its four counterparts.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site