the wandering chick
...Mission San Xavier del Bac
Mission San Xavier
the White Dove of the Desert
Mission San Xavier
Mission San Xavier

Mission San Xavier is a wonderful half-day visit out of Tucson. Nine miles south of the city, the White Dove of the Desert sits gloriously, all alone, pristine white with the Tucson Mountains as its faraway yet closest backdrop.

Still used today as a Catholic church, it was built in 1783 of Spanish Colonial architecture, making it the oldest intact European-style structure in the state.

Just as marvelous are the grounds, with the bell chapel on one side and a spacious courtyard in the rear.

a balcony on the facade of Mission San Xavier
from the interior looking out to the front of the mission
the mission's side bell chapel
the mission's interior
the courtyard
the terrace in front of the mission
a small courtyard out front
making frybread
Locals make frybread for the tourists. For just a couple of dollars, a tasty snack of quick-fried dough, tortilla-size, can be yours. It's a Native American staple and is served loaded with anything from refried beans to honey and powdered sugar.
the back courtyard
the back courtyard

Another mission, this one some 30 miles south of Tucson, is the Mission San Jose de Tumacacori.

Founded by a Jesuit priest in 1691, it was constructed on the village grounds of a Native American Indian tribe who relied on the nearby rivers to farm their crops. The priest,Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, was impressed with the tribe's ways and decided to expand his mission there.

The mission has suffered much damage and ill-repair, not to mention Apache raids through the earlier years, but the moment your enter the humble sanctuary, you're totally captured by its historical past.

...Mission San José de Tumacácori
Arizona's oldest Spanish mission
...Missions of southern Arizona
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori from the rear
Mission San Jose de Tumacacori sanctuary
samples of crops grown by the early inhabitants
sample of crops grown by the early inhabitants

Feel free to visit my other Arizona pages by returning to the Arizona home page.

An exhibit in the mission's courtyard, held by volunteers, shows samples of the grains, beans and other crops grown by the early O'Ohdam tribe.

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