Located just about an hour away from Los Angeles proper, Mission San Juan Capistrano is a great place to spend a day, for couples, families, history buffs or just about anyone.
The Mission is located in the town center, right next to the beautiful Mission Basilica.
Make sure to ask for the complimentary audio guide when you buy your ticket, it will make your visit a lot richer!
The grounds are beautiful, colorful flower beds welcome you as you enter, more flowers surround the great green lawn and ruins, which look like remnants of old European buildings. There are plenty of benches to get some rest or contemplate.
Not surprisingly, it is a very popular spot for wedding photography.
The history is both fascinating, sad and a testament to human resilience and ingenuity. As with other missions in California, it was established by Spain, with the hopes of spreading Christianity and European values among the Native peoples. At its prominence Mission San Juan Capistrano was inhabited by over 1000 people. It was also home to some of the first and most talented blacksmiths. The forges they used still stand in the back of the property along with some of the wheels and tools which were made here. There is also an herb garden resembling the one early settlers planted.
The ruins of the Great Stone Church are spectacular in their own, leaving one wondering what the original church must have looked like. It took the missionaries along with help from the Native people 9 years to build it, but the church stood for only 6 years, becoming the victim of the 1812 earthquake along with most of the people who were inside at the time for a service. It had never been rebuilt, the ruins are protected under the California Historical Landmarks Act.
There is another church on the grounds which stands to this day. Its golden altar is, in fact, older than the Mission. It was made more than 300 years ago and was originally in a church in Los Angeles, whose bishop gifted it to the Mission. The altar was moved in pieces, it took the missionaries over a year to put it together. When they finally finished it, they realized it was taller than the church itself, so they had to build a new, taller roof.
While walking around be sure to look up and check for the small nests along the roofs built by swallows. The legend of the swallows is very popular in the town. The birds migrate each year between Argentina and Southern California. According to the story, Father O’Sullivan happened on a shopkeeper knocking off the nests of these birds because of the mess they made in front of his shop. Father O’Sullivan told the birds to go the Mission as he would gladly give them shelter. Early next morning he noticed the birds building their nests on the buildings of the Mission. These days the arrival of the swallows is celebrated by the town of San Juan Capistrano.
There is so much to do and see in this area one could easily spend a long weekend or even an entire week enjoying the beautiful beaches, the town of nearby Laguna Beach, Dana Point Conservation Area and all the hiking trails around San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel.
