The San Xavier del Bac is a historic catholic mission located about ten miles south of downtown Tucson Arizona on the Tohono O’odham San Xavier Indian Reservation. The mission was founded in 1692 by father Eusebio Kino and named for a pioneering Christian missionary and co-founder of the Jesuit order, Francis Xavier (Officer et al Pg. 90). In 1700 construction on a nearby church began, however, it never got beyond its foundations. Todays mission was built 1783 the construction of this building was an expensive proposition, but Father Velderrian was able to borrow $7000 pesos, which at the time was more than twenty years of a missionaries salary to build the new church. The mission was finally finished in the year 1797. Even though I have …show more content…
The houses were made of concrete and bricks like all other houses and the landscape is exactly like any other in Tucson. However, once I reached the Mission it was an entirely different story. The mission was standing tall with its white walls fully reflecting the afternoon sun. The right tower of the mission looked very defined and radiant. The left tower, however, looked cracked and not so brilliant. After examining the left tower more closely I realized that the mission is under restoration and the left tower is the remaining part of the building that is being restored. As I walked closer to the entrance I began to see the beautiful carvings on the center on the font view of the complex. This area is painted brown and most of the carvings looked like flowers and leaves, however from my opinion it adds so much detail and decoration to the building. On both the right and left sides there was also a small saint carved onto the stone, immediately giving off the impression that this is indeed a …show more content…
Once I stepped inside I noticed that the building looks very aged from the inside with its white walls fading and some edges of the cement crumbling apart. I also noticed that the building has been renovated, because upon entering the mission I was not immediately confronted by a row of posts down the middle of the nave to the sanctuary as the book explains. Instead upon entering I saw rows of wooden benches for the congregation to sit in. Upon viewing the inside if the building without the right mind one would think that it’s a uncared for building with little importance. However, after reading the book I had a different set of mind and thought of this majestic building as a mind-blowing piece of architecture for its time. As was discussed in the book, “The Primeria Alta” the natives of the time were not used to encountering such decorative and majestic buildings. I can only imagine how the natives felt when they entered this mission for the first time in
...ligious life of the town of San Miguel and construction of its main temple which from 1872 he was raised to parish. But like everyone, this temple of the Holy Trinity underwent several transformations, for example: in the first decades of the 19th century was built the current altar; and from 1881 to 1897 he received major improvements, like the composure of the entire building, the purchase of pictures, furniture and several sacred ornaments as well as the construction of the chapels of the Tabernacle and Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and the arches of the entrance to the former chapel of the Entombment of Christ and the old sacristy; the most recent improvement was made in the last years of the 20th century, and which involved the National Institute of anthropology and history, the Government of the State and the father Carlos Cabrero, responsible for the parish.
As a result, Mexican troops came to protect the area and also built a round stone protective wall to protect the mission. The Espada suffered disease, fires, and Indian raids. In 1831, it was decided by the Governors of Texas and Coahuila, Mexico that mission properties, except the churches, should be sold at auction. A French priest by the name of Reverend Francis Bouchu started using the mission again in 1858. He made the mission his home and was responsible for the rebuilding of the church.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is in the center of the small town named for it. Shops and restaurants also named for it are found on the streets in front of the entrance to the mission. A high adobe wall surrounds the mission grounds. There are many restored buildings in the inner patio, and the great stone church. Across the fountain there is the bell wall that sits beside the ruined church. Near the bell is a statue of Father Junipero Serra. The ruins of the original stone church are in front of the mission. Only the sanctuary and parts of the church remain, but that’s enough to have an idea of how big it was. The church walls are made of large stones and birds have build nests between them. Mission San Juan Capistrano was one of many Spanish
In the town of Santa Rosa California, in the county of Sonoma sits a very run down structure in need of either reconstruction or preservation of the remaining structure. Whether they reconstruct the structure or not, it is a prime example of a structure to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. This building is called the Carrillo Adobe and was owned by a woman by the name of Maria Ygnacia de Carrillo. However the site and part of the structure was constructed before Maria Carrillo moved to the area which would later become Santa Rosa, California and constructed the first structure in the town. The foundation was laid by monks of the Franciscan order, as they planned to build the twenty-second mission in California. However the monks moved on to build a mission in the surrounding area. In 1837 Carrillo, who had just become a widow, moved from San Diego County with her children to the area, which was not yet known as Santa Rosa.
The sanctuary was bare, and the pews hard. I mentally tallied a comparison between my own church's sanctuary and this. The two, I found, were similarly austere, but with theirs tending toward items of religious kitsch and our own tending instead towards polished brass. Both lacked stained glass in the windows. I suspected, however, that where our sanctuary was plain in token tribute to the long-dead strict streak of our Calvinist tradition, theirs was bare because it could not economically be otherwise. And the lack of air conditioning ! Memphis' summer heat is unbearable and pervasive, and a roof overhead does nothing against the big blanket of humid air.
...’s book accomplishes a lot in its timid three hundred pages, it lacks more examples of modern architecture and historical landmarks such as the ones discussed above. Also, the lack of chronological order is a new approach, but it might not appeal to all readers.
...le of Spanish Colonial architecture built in Santa Fe around 1610 is the historical Palace of the Governors which too has the authentic Spanish adobe style and is the nation’s oldest continuously occupied public building. It has housed 60 governors of New Mexico and became a place of refuge for Spanish colonialist during the Pablo Indian revolt of 1680. The long covered side walk serves as a market place which faces the plaza. There are several rooms re-created with furniture and artifacts from its original time period. Robert Hughes uses clear yet detailed information when describing Santa Fe’s troublesome history. His descriptions are expressive and confessing. Robert Hughes views the history of American Art as only an outsider would. He defies our biased notions of America’s past while challenging use to see historical art and architecture in a renewed approach.
The church's architecture over all is simple. It is 24 by 34 square feet and set on a stone wall. It is a frontier style cabin and is made from hand hewn logs, which are notched at each end so that they fit together snugly at the corners. The roof is shingled...
The actual building itself appears similar to a castle. The architecture had royal features due to the triangular points on the top of the building. There were three open doors; one big main entrance in front, two small side doors, and all the guests entered through the main entrance. Once I walked in, a big gold Buddha was centered in the back surrounding multiple iconic religious statues. There seemed to be about a hundred religious statues highly dazzled in silver or good.
Mission San Juan Capistrano is a mission like no other. Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1775 and in 1776. Serra’s Chapel was the first permanent building. It was made out of Adobe brick instead of wood. Local native Americans helped build the mission and hang the bells. The people worked for 8 days then stopped. They buried the mission. The people came back the next year to dig out and rebuild the mission. A neat fact about San Juan Capistrano is the brand of their livestock is the letters C,A and P twisted together. San Juan Capistrano is called the jewel of the missions. This unique mission is not an ordinary, everyday mission.
San Francisco de los Tejas is another one of the first missions. It was the first mission built in East Texas. It was called Tejas because they had met Hasinai people along the Colorado River. The word Tejas means "friend". The Tejas mission was built after the Spanish found out about La Salle's fort. Tejas was built out of logs, unlike many of the missions. This was probably so because it was built in the Piney Woods or Post Oak Belt subregion. Trees in these subregions are plentiful. Tejas had been intended for the Caddo tribe. The Caddo were the most advanced tribe and didn't need the food, protection, or shelter the priests offered. Without the Caddo's support the mission was failing greatly. The Spanish government decided to stop funding money for the mission. Before the priests went back to Mexico, they buried the bell and hoped to return one day.
The church external appearance was quite different than other churches that I have seen. It was basically a big white stucco block with a gold dome on top and four decorated spikes on each corner of the building that surrounded the dome. The people of course were all Greek and were very well dressed. Most of the men and boys all wore suits, and If not they had some kind of vest on. I don’t know if this was some kind of rule or tradition, but it mostly seemed as a respect to God. The women all wore the basic dresses, and all the skirts fell down below the knee. Everybody was proper and ordered. As I walked in the church I entered a lobby of some kind. What I saw hear was something like social hour. Everybody was in there. They were all speaking Greek, and I felt as if I was in a family reunion party. The children were all together; the adults talked together and the young adults all were together. The way they all socialize is when someone comes up to say hello, they give each other a kiss on the cheek and a hug. These people are all very close to each other. It seems as if the church is the center of their lives. I admire that trait as well. To enter the auditorium you must enter this little room, which has a piece of garment from St. Constantine and St. Helen. Also there were candles lit. As they walked through this little room they lit a candle and knelt down for a moment to pray, and then touched each garment and made a cross over their chest.
The San Vitale is primarily built of brick with a marble and mosaic interior. The ground plan consists of a octagonal organization with a central dome supported by a tall cylindrical drum. Separated by clerestory windows, is a dome in a concentric form of clay tubed rings and seven curved exedras connected to vaulted semi domes. At the main entrance of this chapel is a narthax making it off access from the adjustment apsidal chapels. On either side of the narthax is two projecting towers, one being a spiral stair tower and the other a bell tower. Connecting the central dome area and the ambulatory is 8 strong masonry pillars. The outer prism incorporates two levels of galleries with eccentric mosaics from floor to ceiling. Whether marble or mosaic stone, the monument fills t...
The mission is open to the public year round, and does not close its doors. There is always someone there to help. They provide food, clothing, shelter, and spread the word of God. They also counsel alcoholics and drug abusers. The mission also has a part called The Opportunity Place. This place helps single mothers who work minimum wage jobs and can’t make ends meet.
When I was a child I used to be frightened of entering such a place for it seemed so imposing and somewhat dangerous, especially when music was being played. One day, in order to keep a promise I had made, I saw myself forced to enter. It took me quite a while to get the courage to pass through the old oak door, but the moment I stepped in, I realized just how enchanting and breathtaking this building could be. Its fantastic architecture and exquisite frescoes reflect perfectly the unity between this earth and the unseen kingdom of angels in such a manner that one cannot say where one ends and the other begins. The way in which the church was built is also the vivid testimony of a medieval period. Although it is a place that can sometimes be cold and ask for respect it is where prayers are answered and magic is done. An overwhelming feeling of inner harmony takes over you once you enter and God seems much closer. Darkness and light are welded perfectly together creating Redemption’s house. The tower allows you to see the entire town from the smallest river to the biggest building site, offering you its mightiness.