SAN ANTONIO – History doesn’t always have to happen in a classroom.
For participants in San Antonio’s Tour de las Misiones, the lesson came on two wheels, on foot and along the San Antonio River.
The bike ride, run and walk are part of the 11th annual World Heritage Festival, celebrating San Antonio’s Spanish Colonial Missions and the legacy of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
San Antonio’s Spanish Colonial Missions are part of the San Antonio Missions World Heritage Site, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas.
For some participants, the event is also a chance to share that history with the next generation.
Joe Cevallos brought his son along for the 14-mile ride, using the route to explore some of the city’s historic missions.
“I love all the trails, the city, the missions; it’s a wonderful time,” Cevallos said.
The five missions — the Alamo, Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada — are connected along the San Antonio River.
The Mission Reach section of the river trail allows people to travel between the missions by bicycle or on foot. Depending on the route, the journey can span roughly 10 to 15 miles.
Along the way, participants can see sites that have helped shape San Antonio for more than three centuries.
For San Antonio, the event is more than exercise. It is a way to experience the history that helped define the city — and to celebrate the legacy of the missions more than a decade after San Antonio secured their recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Cevallos said sharing that history with his son is part of what makes the experience special.
“The history of San Antonio,” he said.
He added that each mission offers something unique.
“It’s awesome, you know what I mean, every mission is unique,” he said. ”It’s good stuff.”
The World Heritage Festival continues at 8 a.m. Sunday with an outdoor Mass at Mission Espada, celebrated by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller.
After the Mass, participants are invited to walk from Mission Espada to Mission San Juan.
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