Governor’s Palace
I love touring the city at night. There are far fewer people and the intimacy with the city is much greater. The Governor’s Palace is something that I would recommend visiting both during the day and at night, however.
There’s just not much to see at night. However it’s still a fun place to spend 15 minutes or so. The plaza is quiet and dark, with crepe myrtles drifting in the constant San Antonio breeze.
When you go visit, take a look at the keystone and the door. One of the cool things about this era of Spanish architecture is the keystones or doors all seem to tell a story.
From the San Antonio City website:
An old timer who says his father related the story to him, tells a story of the history of Spanish America as written in the symbols carved on the front door of the Spanish Governor’s Palace . . . (Reading from the top right side of the door down):
The sea shells represent la Nina, la Pinta, and la Santa Maria as they voyaged from the mother country over the sea. The dragons represent the dangers encountered by the first settlers and the baby face represents the new country, America. The settlers brought with them their arms for protection and they came into the great land of flowers and plenty (resources, gold, silver) where they found the Indian. (Continuing on the left hand door reading from the bottom up). The medallion showing the head of the Spanish Conquistador represents the Spaniards who came into this land of flowers and plenty (flower symbols) and by reason of their arms (the shields) conquered all the dangers (the dragons) including the Indians (mask of Indian Medicine Man) and so these first settlers won this land for the mother country across the sea.
It was built in 1722 and is described by National Geographic Society as the most beautiful building in San Antonio.
The Palace is available for tours Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Admission for adults is just $1.50 and 75 cents for children 7-13. The littlest ones get in free.
It’s really easy to find, it’s served by the yellow and purple street car lines. To drive, just take either Commerce or Market Streets. The official address is 105 Plaza de Armas. That plaza is located between the two parallel streets.
This is a statue of a conquistador and was presented to San Antonio by Spain in 1977. You’ll find it right in front of the Governor’s Palace.
It strikes me as bizarre..the conquistadors were both such a positive and negative depending on the point of view. Just odd that Spain would think the citizens of San Antonio would want to be reminded of smallpox and massacre.
Addition:
We did go see it yesterday..wow. There are lots of incredible artifacts on display. Texas museums and parks amaze me. Everything is so *accessible*. There is a chair on display at the Governor’s Palace that is older than this COUNTRY. It’s sitting right beside a doorway with nothing but a rope draped across the seat to protect it. It’s absolutely beautiful and absolutely accessible. Amazing. I suppose Texas trusts her tourists to respect history.
