The unknown area of the Spanish explorers of California
In the small California city of San Juan Bautista remains the recreation of a nineteenth century village with hotel, his saloon and his headquarters. On these buildings, stands out against the blue sky the white wall of a church. The end has a whitewashed belfry with three bronze bells and a cross at the top. Schedule there is a quiet cemetery. Along the main facade stretches a covered porch that offers shade in the hot summer. When I get close to the entrance, hear speak Castilian. But the accent is not Mexican, so prevalent in this area full of immigrants that built on their wetback U.S. agricultural prosperity.
Is Spanish from Spain. A middle-aged couple and a young girl walking in front of me. It is a marriage of Madrid. They came to visit her daughter, biologist with a research fellowship at Stanford University, mother informs me, infinitely pleased with the achievement. They are also visiting the Spanish missions, but do so in reverse, descending south from San Francisco. Sincerely admired, recognize that Spain had left unaware that such a mark on this yourselvesor union as famous for films, surfing and its peculiar governor anabolizado. I do not blame, few Spanish remember as they travel California is doing for its own past.
The conquest of the Californias (high, medium and low) for the Spanish crown should be equally friars and soldiers. The west coast of the new continent had already traveled to Alaska for the Spanish ships that sailed from the Mexican ports of New Spain, but inside the rugged territory was virtually no tread to the expedition of Gaspar de Portola in 1768, divisaría who the following year a large natural bay until then the ships had passed by. None found the narrow entrance that today crosses the Golden Gate to the San Carlos de Juan de Ayala entered his inner 1775. The bay at last receive their name day 28 March 1776 when he arrived by land the legendary explorer Juan Bautista de Anza.
Juan Bautista de Anza was born in 1763 in the current Mexico, near Arizpe. The son of a Spanish soldier killed by Apaches, Young enlisted in the Army. With 24 years and was captain. Featured in what is now Arizona, requested permission from the Viceroy of New Spain to attempt an overland route to California. And 1774 marched 20 soldiers, 3 priests and 140 horses through the desert bare and unknown, Yuma Indian Territory and rattlesnakes. This sandy wasteland today called Anza-Borrego State Park and is a. After much hardship and work, with all his men come to the shores of Monterey. Spain then sought to strengthen its presence in Alta California to stop the Russian advance from Alaska and granted permission for a second expedition, this time come to the heart of that great bay he called San Francisco.
Probably, had called San Javier or San Ignacio Carlos III if it had not all his kingdom expelled the Jesuits in 1767 for reasons still unclear. The Franciscans, more collaborative and less fractious with earthly power, took their place. Among these was the Spaniard Fray Junipero Serra, only Spanish with statue in the Capitol. Along with fifteen other religious accompanied Portola to convert Indians. He founded nine missions following the example of the Mexican, the first being the San Diego 1769. In total there are twenty missions, spread over 996 kilometers of what is still known as the Camino Real. Far from each other about thirty miles, or what is the same, horse one day. Visiting them is a great experience because the trail runs through magnificent landscapes ranging from the driest deserts, more lush forests, the whitest beaches and fertile valleys.
In total there are twenty missions, spread over 996 kilometers of what is still known as the Camino Real
The image we have of these religious and civil facilities offered her the film The Mission, in which the Jesuits were allied with the Guarani Indians to fight the infiltrators Portuguese after the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, Brazil were awarded. But the Franciscan missions have another appearance. Built with whitewashed adobe, The main building is always a church gabled facade and high pavilions which come attached on one level forming a cloister garden at its center a fountain bubbling. Fresh and silent, offered rest to the education and care of native, refuge for prayer and for the administrative headquarters of agriculture and livestock. Secularized 1834 by the Mexican Government, became state property and entered into an unstoppable decline.
For negligence, looting or seismic instability, missions were completely ruined in the early twentieth century without anyone seems to care. Unless a person. William Randolph Hearst, Ciudadano Kane, who built a castle delirious near the Mission San Antonio de Padua. The same arrogance that encouraged the War of Cuba against Spain from their newspapers, restored from his pocket the old church building after an earthquake razed completely. The tycoon's intervention would have another interesting effect. Hearst Balance at end of the decade of the 30 the enormous debts to the Treasury giving the Government its mission and ranch lands including. The land was used for military training. San Antonio de Padua is thus the only mission that is still in the wilderness. In any case, missions, engulfed by urban expansion, were returned to the Franciscans in the mid-twentieth century. Now, all are lovingly restored and returned to worship.
The last and most northern mission is San Francisco Solano, founded in 1823, Mexican government already under. This mission irregularly founded an ambitious newcomer Catalan friar, and father Altimira, who by not obtaining permission from his superior to move further north the insane hospital in San Francisco, instructed the Mexican governor. This, eager to extend its political influence and monitor the Russian settlement of Fort Ross, concedió escolta the military. Altimira founded his mission in a fertile valley and upon arrival made many Indians Miwoks in what looked like a promising career missionary. But he soon gained indigenous resentment by the ease with which prescribed syrup whip and stick. Fearing an uprising, took refuge in Buenaventura Mission. Neither was very well received by their brethren in faith. And 1828 returned to Spain unnoticed. But, before his departure, the hated Altimira California had made a precious gift which still benefits. It was he who ordered plantar 1825 the first vines in the Sonoma Valley, now world famous for its wines.
INFORMATION
Missions:
http://www.californiamissions.com/
EAT AND SLEEP
Sonoma Hotel: Downtown, comfortable, good restaurant 110 West Spain Street Sonoma. Tfn: 800-468-6016. www.sonomahotel.com
Posada San Juan: 310 4th street. San Juan Bautista. Tfn 831-623-4030
San Antonio de Padua: The Hacienda. Old Ranch Randolph Hearst, restaurant has nine rooms. (831) 386-2446
Comments (6)
Manuel Gallardo
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I recognize that as they said in facebook is an unknown, at least for me. Neither knew that Russia was another country that was played on the west coast of USA. How far the Spanish arrived?
Manuel Gallardo Palacios
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Gabriela Ricci
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What a coincidence, yesterday, with 41 years, I first saw Citizen Kane and today I found this story in this article. In the film, a jewel, is a huge castle. On the other hand, say that the Spanish colonial architecture is one of my weaknesses. There's a historical heritage rescue, is a great unknown. Please bring something to that effect.
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ricardo Coarasa
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Manuel, our countrymen came to more northern Nootka, Alaska. In fact, Place names can still be seen in the world's northernmost Spanish, as a city called Port Valdez. There is a great book about the Spanish footprint in North America called "Distant Flags", a treat with maps which identifies all the Spanish settlements.
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Anonymous
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[…] […]
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The Pea Green Project
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Walking the Camino Real can find a large number of missions, some in better condition than other, restorations and in some cases not very lucky. In any case it is an interesting journey that takes us to another time, that is already part of our history.
Greetings!
Roberto
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Ricardo
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For those who want to know more about the Spanish explorers of California Pioneers: https://www.viajesalpasado.com/viaje-a-las-raices-espanolas-de-san-francisco/
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