O.C. Day Trip: Father Serra’s Legacy Tour at Mission San Juan Capistrano
When walking onto the grounds of Mission San Juan Capistrano, it’s easy to be captivated by the beauty of the flowers, butterflies and birds.
But the 238-year-old mission also holds much history, and it’s all highlighted in tours. The newest is Father Serra’s Legacy Tour, which started March 21 to celebrate the Spanish Franciscan friar’s canonization later this year. Junipero Serra, who died in 1784, built the first nine of the 21 Spanish missions in California.
On the tour, volunteer docents show guests the Serra Chapel and Great Stone Church as well as the more-modern basilica.
Serra Chapel preserves 232 years of history inside its walls. Recorded choirs sing in the background as visitors walk the aisle between pews, headed toward the 300-year-old altar.
The altar, which is gold in color, is made up of 396 pieces and held up by four pillars that docent Mary Susa said represent wisdom.
This is the same adobe church where Serra celebrated Mass in 1783. It is the only remaining church where Serra celebrated Mass.
When Serra Chapel proved too small for the growing mission, the Great Stone Church was built in 1797. It was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1912.
Visitors seem taken by its remnants, held up by original and new stone.
The Great Stone Church is believed to be so sturdy today, Susa said, that it would merely rock back and forth in another powerful earthquake.
Though the mission is steeped in history, it has present-day touches. Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano is a large modern church that was patterned after the stone church and opened in 1986.
The centerpiece is the Grand Retablo, a 16-ton altar backing that stands at 42 feet tall and 30 feet wide. It was carved in cedar and covered in gold leaf.
The 90-minute tour begins at 2 p.m. every second Saturday of the month. The mission is at 26801 Ortega Hwy. in San Juan Capistrano. Tour admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children. Admission to the mission is an additional $8 for adults and $6 for children.
Reservation for the Serra tour must be made the Wednesday before the tour by calling (949) 234-1306. More information can be found at missionsjc.com/tours/father-serra-tour.php.