By Julie Branton:
It has always been fun and interesting to me to explore new places on vacation. This time it was Tucson, Arizona. I was excited to visit San Xavier Mission in south Tucson. The place was calm and peaceful and I loved it. It was a great experience for me as I spent a lot of quality time with my wife, away from the bustles of the city life and apart from the luxurious spas and resorts. Situated in Sonoran desert, Tucson has been successful in drawing crowds to its events and attractions for years.
Located in the southern part of Arizona, Tucson enjoys one of the most magnificent pieces of architecture in the form of San Xavier Mission church, which is located in the midst of the desert. Having a mysterious air about it, I was completely fascinated by the first look at this mission whose construction initiated long back in 1783.
Mission San Xavier is a remarkable Spanish Catholic Mission that is situated on the Tohono O'odham San Xavier Indian Reservation. We drove a distance of around 10 miles from downtown Tucson to reach there. But it was certainly worth the effort. The Santa Cruz River runs underground in places near here, so the Mission is known to be a "place where the water appears". Another name for the San Xavier Mission is ‘white dove of desert’.
The architectural styles that have been incorporated reflect the styles of Mexican Renaissance, Byzantine and Moorish. Also, due to some complications, the church was left incomplete, which is quite evident when anyone compares both the bell towers. While one of the towers is crowned with dome, the other one is left with none. This is one of the best things I noticed when I paid a visit here. In fact, the videotape of the church that I saw here gave me immense insight to the history of the San Xavier Mission.
Apart from its timeless appeal, the mission is blazed with painted frescoes and color that covers the walls, arched ceiling and altar from inside. Another thing that swept me off my feet was the shape of the mission, which was that of the cross. So, it beautifully reflected the Spanish mission architecture. It is a must visit site for those who are interested and know how to appreciate the beauty in sculpture, art and paintings, along with religion and timeless beauty. The beautiful rustic decor of the San Xavier Mission was itself enough to instill spirituality in me.
Please be respectful when visiting the mission, as services are held every day of the year, and many people just stop in to light candles and for prayer. There is no admission fee, but donations are always accepted. The mission also houses a school which is staffed by the Franciscan Sisters. The school has been operating continuously longer than almost any other school in Arizona.
The mission is located at 1950 W. San Xavier Road.
Phone: 520-294-2624
"San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson Arizona is a Remarkable piece of Spanish Mission Architecture "
