Welcome to Downtown San Antonio

Icons and Legends of the Alamo City

In San Antonio, our roots run deep—deep in the heart of downtown. While the River Walk is our most popular attraction, there’s so much more to explore. Alamo Plaza houses one of the city’s five Spanish colonial missions, the Alamo, and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On Main Plaza, the San Fernando Cathedral houses the oldest, continuously functioning religious community since 1731. Museums, theatres, and art schools liven the scene with art collections, musical and theater performances, and classes for students at heart.

Markets fill the streets with local shops, eateries, and public artwork. Come eat, drink, shop, and explore what’s new in downtown.

Historical Significance

San Antonio’s story begins with Spanish explorers. In 1691, they named the city in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua because they reached this new land on his feast day, June 13. In 1718, Franciscan priests and a military captain founded Mission San Antonio de Valero – the Alamo – to serve as a midpoint between the missions in northern Mexico and east Texas. At the same time, a presidio was established to protect them.

Today, you can visit the Alamo – one of the city’s five missions collectively designated as the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Texas – and explore the Spanish Governor’s Palace, a landmark that once provided housing for the captain of the presidio and served as headquarters for the soldiers stationed there.