Spanish Governor's Palace, San Antonio
The Spanish Governor's Palace in downtown San Antonio is a historic adobe dating back to the Spanish Texas period. This is the last visible trace of the 18th-century colonial Presidio San Antonio de Béxar complex, and is the only remaining example in Texas of an aristocratic Spanish Colonial in-town residence.
The building was planned as early as 1722 but was completed only in 1749. The keystone above its front entrance is marked with the coat-of-arms of Spanish King Ferdinand VI and the date 1749. Initially, it served as residence and working offices for the local presidio captain, and later, became the home of the Spanish governors who lived in San Antonio. Eventually, the palace became the capitol building of the Texas region of Spanish Texas in 1772, and was originally intended to protect the area's missions, including that of San Antonio de Valero Mission (The Alamo) and the growing Spanish colony.
The one-story masonry and stucco structure features ten rooms, a grand courtyard and a fountain, and is alleged to be haunted.
The National Geographic Society described the palace as "the most beautiful building in San Antonio"; in 1970 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The building is currently maintained by the City of San Antonio and is open to the public as a museum.
The building was planned as early as 1722 but was completed only in 1749. The keystone above its front entrance is marked with the coat-of-arms of Spanish King Ferdinand VI and the date 1749. Initially, it served as residence and working offices for the local presidio captain, and later, became the home of the Spanish governors who lived in San Antonio. Eventually, the palace became the capitol building of the Texas region of Spanish Texas in 1772, and was originally intended to protect the area's missions, including that of San Antonio de Valero Mission (The Alamo) and the growing Spanish colony.
The one-story masonry and stucco structure features ten rooms, a grand courtyard and a fountain, and is alleged to be haunted.
The National Geographic Society described the palace as "the most beautiful building in San Antonio"; in 1970 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The building is currently maintained by the City of San Antonio and is open to the public as a museum.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Antonio. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Spanish Governor's Palace on Map
Sight Name: Spanish Governor's Palace
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Antonio, USA (See walking tours in San Antonio)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Antonio, Texas
Create Your Own Walk in San Antonio
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Antonio is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
King William Historical District Tour
San Antonio’s first “suburb” and the very first historical district in Texas, revitalized during the 1960s, the King William District encompasses 25 blocks south of downtown and east of the San Antonio River.
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Back in the late 1800s, it was the most elegant residential area in the city. Settled by German immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Kaiser Wilhelm of Prussia and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
River Walk Tour
The San Antonio River Walk (also known as Paseo del Río or simply The River Walk) is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath the streets of the city. A successful special-case pedestrian street, this walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting major tourist draws and attractions that add to its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
San Antonio Introduction Walking Tour
San Antonio, one of Texas' major cities, boasts rich colonial heritage. The city was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day is June 13. At the time of European encounter, the area near the San Antonio River Valley was inhabited by Payaya Indians who called it Yanaguana, the "refreshing waters".
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
In 1709, Spanish Father Antonio de Olivares... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles