history
traditions river walks and cruises food wine and ale
History and Traditions
Experience San Antonio’s rich heritage by visiting its 18th
century Spanish colonial missions, residential areas dating from the 1860s and
the local museums that celebrate the city’s past:
The
Spanish Governor’s Palace is a national historic landmark, labeled
that once housed the officials of the Spanish Province of Texas. The entrance
displays the double-headed eagle of the Hapsburg coat-of-arms and the inscription,
in Spanish, "finished in 1749." Other features include period
furnishings and a cobblestone patio with fountain and foliage.
San
Antonio Missions National
Historic Park the Mission Trail is a walking, biking or driving experience
of the five local missions and the centuries of local history and culture: Mission San Antonio de Valero, commonly
known as the Alamo, Mission Concepción,
Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission San Francisco de la Espada. The
San Antonio Mission Trail begins at the Alamo and winds southward along a
nine-mile stretch of the San Antonio River.
The
King William District is a sprawling 25 blocks area in downtown San
Antonio. The 19th century residences on the San Antonio River
south bank have been preserved and transformed into cafes, art galleries,
museums and shops. As the most elegant residential area in the city, it was
settled by German merchants who brought with them a distinct architectural
style; it remains a fashionable neighborhood.
The
Institute of Texan Cultures features exhibits, programs and events
that examine heritage, ethnicity, history, social issues and popular culture
with a focus on the stories of immigrants who settled in Texas and contributed
to its modern, multicultural society.
A Travel Experience in San Antonio Texas
The Alamo is a 4.2 acre complex and a 300 year symbol of Texas
history. This is where Spain began its colonization, Mexico sought independence
and the Confederacy stood its ground. But it is best known as the place where a
small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against General Antonio López
de Santa Anna. The Alamo houses exhibits on the Texas Revolution and
History.
Museums
San Antonio’s galleries range from fine art to local and folk art,
local artists' work and everything from Egyptian antiquities to Western and
Asian art to works by European masters.
The
San Antonio Museum of Art’s global
collection represents 5,000 years of history and cultures from around the
world. Housed in a complex of buildings that was once the Lone Star Brewery,
the Museum is renowned for its collections of Latin American, Asian, and
Ancient Mediterranean Art, and includes a notable contemporary collection.
The
Briscoe Western Art Museum preserves and interprets the art,
history, and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions,
educational programs, and public events reflective of the region’s rich
traditions and shared heritage. Located
along the San Antonio River Walk, its campus is inclusive of the restored
historic 1930s art deco/neo classical former San Antonio Public Library
building which now serves as the Museum space with nine galleries on three
levels.
Blue
Star Contemporary Art Museum is an incubator for contemporary art,
hosting over twenty exhibitions each year within its four on-site galleries and
multiple offsite locations within the community featuring emerging and
world-renowned local and global artists.
River Walks and Cruises
San
Antonio’s River Walk is one of
the most visited sites in Texas, providing scenic pathways and waterways
for the city’s cultural and historic sites, as well as a picturesque link
between restaurants, hotels and shops. The River Walk meanders along the San
Antonio River’s stone pathways connecting shops, restaurants, hotels, museums and
the city’s historic and modern architecture.
A River
Cruise Barge covers one and a half miles of the San Antonio River
Walk.
Food Wine and Ale Itineraries
Olive
Oil Orchards some of the first commercial olive oil orchards in
Texas lie just 20 minutes south of San Antonio producing olive oil and olive
leaf based skin care products along with an emphasis on hospitality and
educating the public on the benefits and various uses of olive oil.
Market
Square The rich culture of San Antonio abounds throughout the plazas
of Market Square. A three-block outdoor plaza lined with restaurants, shops and
produce stands near San Antonio's city center, Market Square is the largest Mexican
market in the U.S. and one of America's top -ten outdoor markets. Market
Square's working artists, musicians, dancers and major cultural events give it
a rich and lively cultural atmosphere. Visitors browse through 32 shops
at "El Mercado," and 80 specialty shops in
Hill Country Wine Tours
Ranger
Creek Brewing and Distilling is a combined brewery and distillery
making beer and whiskey by hand one batch at a time.
Pearl is a neighborhood with a rich history made by the many
people who have ties to the place - the buildings, the river, the brewery - since
it was founded in 1881. It is also a place where people share meals, learn,
work and live in 324 apartments, fifteen restaurants and cafes, thirteen
retailers and eighteen resident businesses and a twice weekly Farmers Market.