Mission San Juan Capistrano

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. One of California's oldest Spanish missions, San Juan Capistrano dates from 1776 and still features a variety of adobe foundations and a few working buildings. Although the once-majestic Great Stone Church is no longer intact, the intimate chapel with its baroque altar is still in use. The mission's legendary swallows, said to arrive every year on St. Joseph's Day, add to the place's charm. The sites' museum recollects the history of the mission, and a variety of art and cultural activities are hosted each season.