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Mission San Xavier del Bac
The historical differences between the British-colonized east coast of the
United States and the Spanish-owned southwest are even wider than
their geographical distances. No landmark epitomizes the Spanish
Empire’s bygone presence in this land like the Mission San
Xavier del Bac, one of the greatest extant examples of Spanish Missionary
architecture in the country. Formerly a self-sustaining community
of Franciscan friars and indigenous Pima Indians, the Mission is
located in the current-day Tohono O’odham Reservation, about
ten miles southwest of Tucson by Rte. 19. The reservation is in
an extremely barren rugged landscape; the rivers long ago dried
up and the ground is covered by grisly cholla cactus. By contrast,
the gold and whitewashed stucco steeples of San Xavier del Bac stand
out conspicuously. Inside, the walls of the nave are covered by
splendid frescoes representing the Native American heritage. There
are serene porticoes around the inner courtyard and a few nearby
hills that offer distant overlooks. A lot of work has been done
restoring the Mission in the past years and the results of this
effort are impressive; it appears quite timeless. Mass is still
conducted and is open to visitors; however, if you go strictly as
a tourist, be sure to be respectful in this place of worship. There
are nice local crafts sold around the parking area of the Mission,
which provide a good way of giving back to this host community.
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