Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

Located in what is now San Diego along El Camino Real, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was the first Franciscan mission in California. While the origins of the California missions are rooted in efforts to convert Native Americans to Catholicism and expand European territory, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá now serves as an active parish and cultural center for people of all faiths. Founded by Spanish Friar Junipero Serra in 1769, the mission endured adversity within the region, and the original structure was ravaged by time before collapsing. The current structure, rebuilt in the 1930s, is a replica of the mission circa 1813. In 1976, Mission San Diego de Alcalá was named a "basilica," a rare honor bestowed upon a church by the pope.

The mission houses a museum that traces the history of the area and a meditation garden that provides a gathering place in honor of the area's native people, the Kumeyaay, and their heritage. The parish community enjoys a daily and Sunday Mass service, and the elegant courtyard hosts events and activities. Known as the "soul of San Diego," Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá provides visitors with a tranquil and serene space for prayer and reflection — as well as an opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of California's missions.