|
Navigation for Mission San Antonio de Padua:
|
As with most Missions, the interior of the quadrangle is today dedicated to a garden. The side door of the garden corridor is also the way into the Church itself. The main doors to the Church are generally locked. The entrance to the garden is via a corridor to the left of the front of the Church.
Picture taken 3:55pm 9 Mar 2005
|
As you exit the tunnel and enter the corridor that runs the length of the garden you get an overview of the entire garden. At this Mission (in 2005) the garden was left in a more unstructured state; wildeflowers abounded along with other native plant growths in a pretty-much random pattern as this 90-degree panorama shows...
Picture taken 3:55pm 9 Mar 2005
A return visit in 2008 shows the renewal project for the garden well underway. The sundial you can barely see in the photo above is now clearly visible as well as the fountain and trees. Pathways have been built into the garden so you can stroll through the entire garden now and roses have been made the theme of the garden and we can now clearly see it is dedicated to Marie G. Trescony (a long-time San Antonio supporter) via a plaque attached to the sundial...
Picture taken 2:55pm 12 Apr 2008
|
Picture taken 4:20pm 9 Mar 2005
|
But, don't let the initial look of the garden put you off to a little exploring. Walk down the corridor that's open to you. As you draw even with the fountain in the center of the garden be certain to look across. In line with the fountain you will see a small bell mounted on the far part of the quadrangle and further, the cross on top of the hill next to the Mission is in line with those two. If you have really good eyes you might even read the temperature on the thermometer you see in front of the fountain.
Further on, note the old, gnarled grapevine close to the corridor. This vine was cultivated from the original stock of grape vines planted at the Mission when it was active.
|
Picture taken 4:15pm 9 Mar 2005
|
Other and similar scenes from a 2008 garden visit...
Picture taken 2:55pm 12 Apr 2008
|
Picture taken 2:55pm
12 Apr 2008
|
Picture taken 2:55pm 12 Apr 2008
|
Now, backtrack a bit, look at the cooking pots and other displays along the corridor and notice the cross framed by the outer door and the adobe construction as you head back.
Picture taken 4:20pm 9 Mar 2005
|
Picture taken 4:20pm 9 Mar 2005
|
But, don't leave just yet; enter the Church by the side door.
Enter the Church 
|
