Journeying to the Mission San Xavier del Bac
Just south of Tucson along the banks of the Santa Cruz River, a solitary building stands in the distance, visible from I-19. This building is the Mission San Xavier del Bac, which has been a fixture of the Southern Arizona landscape since the late 1700s. The Mission is the oldest European building in the state of Arizona, and it is a stunning example of Spanish Colonial architecture. While there is a wide range of extraordinary sites that the drivers of Xcel Delivery get to see trekking across the state each day, Mission San Xavier del Bac is perhaps one of the most uniquely beautiful. Keep reading to learn more about the Mission and its history in Southern Arizona.
Architecture
Little is known about the original interior decorators of the church, but the architecture of the church is a definitive example of Baroque architecture designed by Ignacio Gaona. This dramatic style utilizes masonry vaults, faux doors, and marbling throughout. The distinctive exterior of the Mission was briefly coated in cement-based white stucco, which proved problematic by trapping water inside the building. A traditional mud plaster has replaced the stucco on the exterior façade.
Mission History
The current Mission is not the original site of the San Xavier Mission, which was founded in 1692. The modern Mission was built between 1783 and 1797, and it was left vacant about one century later following the Mexican American War, which led to the return of the Franciscans to Spain from San Xavier. The church was later reopened under U.S. rule and extensively restored in the late 20th century.
Modern Mission
Today, the Mission San Xavier del Bac is actively run by Franciscans and serves the Native American for which it was originally built. The Mission also hosts about 200,000 visitors each year, and it is open daily to the public with the exception of hours during church services.
This article is part of a series on Arizona’s Amazing Roadside Attractions
