This is one of the most beautiful Spanish missions in the Southwest. It is affectionately called the "Jewel of the desert" and appropriately so as you will see. It is amazing the architectural capabilities of the Spanish Franciscan monks and the local indian (decendants of the ancient Hohokam) tribe who built it. The mission was founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino and building came to a stop in 1697. To this day it is the center of the community and still operates as a mission chapel/church and school for the local indian tribe and all who journey to it's location. San Xavier's a combination of several architectural styles so well intermingled that it's practically impossible to tell where one style ends and another begins as you will see in the photos below. From the front, ones' eyes and mind are overpowered by the beauty of San Xavier's white facade, its completed left tower, the incomplete right tower, and the Franciscan coat-of-arms portal.

Place your cursor over the photo thumbnail to read the caption.  If you choose click on the thumbnail to see a close up of the photo.