More Than A Church

The Old Spanish Missions were like a self-contained city.
The Church was the centerpiece, but there were also living quarters
for the Native-Americans, and buildings for food and water storage.
A system of aquaducts brought water from the San Antonio River to
power the grain mills and also to irrigate crops grown in
fields surrounding the protection of the thick fortress walls.
While most of the colorful frescos on the church's sides are gone,
some traces of the original beauty of these 250 year old monuments
remain. You just have to go and look for them.
The churches at the Missions are still active, holding services for
their congregations through the centuries.

Here is a view from Mission San Jose.