Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala is the first of California's twenty-one Spanish missions, founded in 1769 by Franciscan Father Junipero Serra, and today it is a working parish church and a minor basilica. It moved to its current Mission Valley site in 1774 and has a peaceful garden, a small museum named for Padre Luis Jayme, a bookstore and gift shop, and a tall bell wall. Visitors can walk the grounds, learn the story of the mission and its complicated history with the Kumeyaay people, and attend services. It is a quieter, more reflective stop than Old Town, about nine miles from downtown.
The mission was founded on July 16, 1769 and relocated in 1774 to be closer to water. In 1775 a Kumeyaay uprising burned the church and killed Father Luis Jayme, who is buried at the mission. The church was rebuilt in the early 1800s, the property later served as a military outpost, and it was returned to the Catholic Church in 1862, with restoration beginning in 1931.
It became a parish church in 1941 and was named a minor basilica in 1976. The story is a layered one, and the museum and grounds are a good place to start understanding it.
On the grounds you can see a garden planted with palms, roses and citrus, memorial crosses made from original mission tiles, statues, a Pieta garden, and the oldest European cemetery in California. The bell wall is about 46 feet tall and holds five bells; the Festival of the Bells, held on the Sunday nearest July 16, is the only day all five ring together. A museum charges a modest admission, while attending Mass is free. Docent-led and self-guided tours are available, so ask at the visitor center.
This is a place of worship as well as a historic site, so dress modestly, keep your voice low in the church and avoid disturbing services; Mass is held daily and more often on weekends. The mission is about nine miles from downtown and can be reached by car or the Green Line trolley, and there is parking by the entrance. Allow an hour or so, and combine it with a visit to Old Town for a fuller look at San Diego's early history. Check current hours before you go, as they can change.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit of the church, garden, small museum and grounds, with docent-led and self-guided tours; it remains a working parish.
Best time
Weekday mornings are quiet; the Festival of the Bells on the Sunday nearest July 16 is the liveliest day.
How long
About an hour.
Tips
Dress modestly and respect services. Check hours before you go, ask about tours at the visitor center, and use the Green Line trolley if you prefer not to drive.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History and architecture fans, and visitors interested in California's mission era.
- Families
- Fine for school-age children if you keep it short and respectful of services.
- Couples
- A calm, scenic hour in the garden and church.
- Pair with
- Old Town San Diego and the Whaley House show other layers of early San Diego.
- Time needed
- About an hour.
Good questions
When was the mission founded?+
On July 16, 1769, as the first of California's Spanish missions.
Is it still a working church?+
Yes, it is a parish church and a minor basilica with regular Masses.
What is there to see?+
The church, a garden, memorial crosses, a small museum, a bookstore and the bell wall.
Is there an admission fee?+
The museum charges a modest fee; attending Mass is free.
How far is it from downtown?+
About nine miles; you can drive or take the Green Line trolley, which stops nearby.
