San Fernando Cathedral

San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio is absolutely breathtaking. Its gorgeous Gothic style architecture makes it one of the most stunning and historic landmarks in the city. The intricate details, stained glass windows, and majestic altar create a deeply reverent and awe-inspiring atmosphere. Whether you’re attending Mass, praying quietly, or simply visiting, the beauty and peace of this sacred place leave a lasting impression. A must-see for anyone visiting San Antonio—spiritually uplifting and architecturally magnificent.

I went here for a 24 minute video art projection at 9 p.m. It was wonderful. Beautiful storytelling captured on the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral. I had read that you need to get there early to find a seat but I arrived only 10 minutes early and there was still plenty of seats left. The show started promptly at 9 p.m. I highly recommend this free showing of colorful depictions of San Antonio's developments, history, and battles. (Note: there is a donation box station to the right of the grounds in front of the church).

This lovely Cathedral is located a short easy from the Alamo in San Antonio. Some of the heteros were entombed here after being buried under an altar for a number years. There is a great gift shop on the grounds, loads of historical markers and an outside area in the front with seats where events are held. I highly recommend this site.

Would be 5 stars if the sound system was better than what it is now. The light show is definitely worth seeing. Available from Tuesday to Sunday at 9pm. Lasts about 25 mins. With the poor sound quality I recommend sitting in front (between two polls with the speakers).

Beautiful historic church in the heart of San Antonio. Peaceful during the day and absolutely magical at night with the free light show — a must-see experience!

Great place to visit to see a movie over the front of Cathedral, is a film about Texas or Tejas History. It has daily shows except for monday, at 8:30 pm. But it is recommendable 15-20 min prior because its very crowded.

I try to go to the cathedral every time we visit San Antonio. I love its grandeur, but also its sacred feel. It is the most peaceful thing to escape from the busyness of the Riverwalk and just sit and reflect in the quiet of the cathedral.

Absolutely beautiful! Being in my mid 50’s I grew up on stories of the Alamo. I was surprised by a large “casket” in the entry where the remains of some of the Alamo defenders are interred. My wife and I were in a nearby hotel and came here for Saturday evening mass. Very convenient walk from the Embassy Suites. Incredible service with a priest who gave a very meaningful homily. Will go here on our next visit to San Antonio.

The history and the mere existence of the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, TX was quite fascinating to me. It is not the oldest in America, but one of the oldest. During a tour of the city on 5.25.2025, our guide paused our group in front of the cathedral during its light show, "San Antonio | The Saga." The free show lasts approximately 24 minutes Tuesday through Sunday, although, additional showings are sometimes offered. Will the newest Catholic pope, American Pope Leo XIV, visit someday during his pontificate? I sure hope so. Very beautiful and well-maintained. Near River Walk. Highly recommend.

Too beautiful, this oldest cathedral in America has so much history. Part of the Alamo battles, once a hospital, survived a fire, etc Concerts here when there is no worship and the night light shows are every night for free! Acoustics are amazing, So thankful to witness this magnificent building and enjoy a magical musical night as well Free parking on Sundays sure helps too! In the middle of the city there's plenty of hotels, eateries, the river just steps away.

It was natural for me as a Catholic and a history buff to visit this centuries old house of worship, and I'm glad that my younger brother wanted to come here. San Fernando Cathedral played a distinct role in Texas's colonial past. The mother church of the Archdiocese of San Antonio was where Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana and his soldiers literally raised a red flag to warn the Texian rebels holed up at the Alamo that there would be no quarter, and speaking of the Alamo, the purported final resting place of William B. Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett. Not too long ago, I learned that a friend of a friend descended from laborers who built the cathedral. That was on my mind as I explored the inside. The architecture, the works of art, and the nooks and crannies transported me back to the days before Texas became an independent republic. I did see the alleged tomb of the fallen Alamo commanders, which was near the church's front entrance. I prayed before it and mentally saluted the men for which the sarcophagus was for. Safe to say that I had an item on mental SATX bucket list crossed off. I do want to attend a Mass here in the future.

So pretty and clean. You are able to h wet super close to the altar. They do the saga show but late at night.

Beautiful church . Many statues with relics . I recommend to stop by . Thy do an outdoor light show on the church . We will not be doing that . It's like 25 degrees.

Wow, The Catholic Cathedral is stunning and such history!! It's a very active church with several Masses per day and thousands of tourists per year. Pope John Paul visited here in 1987 and had an outdoor Mass. The church was founded by a group of people from The Canary Islands hundreds of years ago. It also houses the remains of Davy Crockett following his demise at The Alamo. The Cathedral puts on a light show every night 9pm I think, except Monday on the face of the Church it's called The Saga and is free. Chairs are located in the Plaza to sit and watch. I think it lasts about an hour. Don't miss this.

Absolutely beautiful cathedral in San Antonio. The architecture is absolutely gorgeous. The inside of the cathedral is equally as beautiful and definitely worth seeing.

Attended a concert and enjoyed the acoustics and intamacy of this cathedral! However, it was fairly hot inside, and attendees were fanning themselves constantly. The bathrooms and water fountains are clean. The inside has lots of seating and is beautiful

Oldest Catholic community in Texas as it's documented that the cathedral was commissioned in 1731 by order of King Philip V of Spain. King Philip directed the colonization of Texas by settlers from the Canary Islands and it was these same immigrants from those islands that were the first Europeans in Texas. Note that it was also the Canary Islanders who in 1731 also brought "chili" to Texas creating a culinary tradition that has lasted in America for almost 300 years! In fact the first chili vendors were located on Market Street less than a quarter of a mile away from the cathedral plaza. The cathedral is situated "ad orientum" so the rising sun in the east shines through the rose window and illumes the altar. The left side of the narthex contains the resting place for the remains of many Alamo heroes killed in the famous 1836 battle, including Davey Crockett, William Travis, and James Bowie. There are over 1000 registered families who attend weekend Masses here and over 100 weddings and 300 baptisms take place annually. Weekday Mass here is at 12:05pm, and weekend Masses vary by language. Best you visit their website first. Sacrament of Reconciliation is daily. Adoration takes place on First Fridays after the 12:05 Mass and also First Saturdays at 6pm. Thank you for reading my review.

What a beautiful cathedral inside and out! We went here for a wedding, and it is located in downtown San Antonio right near the Riverwalk. It's one of the oldest Catholic churches in Texas, and very well maintained. If you have an appreciation for history and architecture, it is a must visit!

I have visited here while walking in downtown, to see the evening light display, or for Mass. This is a beautiful Cathedral, and a must see place if you are visiting San Antonio! If you have the pleasure of taking in weekend services I would encourage it. Everyone is extremely welcoming, music is lovely, and the backdrop is gorgeous.

Beautiful church, although we decided to not go inside since there was an ongoing service and we don't want our kids to make any noise, we just stayed outside. Too bad we missed the gift shop's open hours. The only reason why I gave this place 4 stars is because the maintenance of the restrooms.

Cathedral is just a few minutes walk from The Riverwalk, so in a case you're exploring the area by Riverwalk it's quiet convenient to add the cathedral as one of the quick diversions. Even if you are not religious, but interested in history, it is an interesting historic landmark, since the remains of the Alamo defenders (Crockett and Bowie among others) are placed in a tomb at the entrance to the left and you can access it without entering the main part of the cathedral. Light show at night (only Tue, Fri, Sat and Sun 9,9.30 and 10) brings the building back to life thru very special light show. Highly recommended.

It's a video presentation projected on the walls of the cathedral. It depicts Texas history

The "Saga" is a light show that is shown on the front of the San Fernando Cathedral. The show tells the history of San Antonio. The show lasts 25 minutes. There is some seating, but we would suggest you bring your own chair or blanket to sit on. There are some vendors in the area so some food and beverages are available for purchase. There are 2 shows nightly. The first at 9:00 and the second at 9:30. On the evenings when it gets dark later, I would suggest attending the later show because it would be easier to see the light show. It is an easy walk from the downtown tourist area.

Unique light show, unlike anything we have seen elsewhere. Lasts about 25 minutes and captures and keeps your attention the whole time. Love that it is done onto the face of a cathedral. Large courtyard with seating a plus.

Gorgeous, humble cathedral. Plenty of history as told in the museum half of the gift shop. The catherdal is still functioning to serve mass to local parishoners and visiting pilgrims.

I have been serving 5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil Mass since May 2014 & Priests, Deacons, & Parishioners are great & I always & forever love it all the time.

Cathedral looks great from outside and centrally located. Many photoshoot happens outside it seems. Huge from inside too. Nice architecture on sides but ceiling is plain unlike most great cathedrals. However it's nicely managed. From both interior and exterior.

We decided to catch the Saga (which is a free light show projected on the church) and it was so much fun. The show lasts about 25 minutes and tells a cool story about the history of San Antonio. The church itself if beautiful and large, so no matter where you stand you will get a good view. Note: Make sure to wear a jacket or bring a blanket for cooler nights since you will be outside, standing the whole time.

This is a very pretty and very old Catholic Church that we got to visit on our last trip to San Antonio. The cathedral is very easy to walk to from downtown San Antonio and it's beautiful from a an architectural perspective. The design is fairly simple inside, but it's still beautiful and it was a nice to pray and to spend some time inside this cathedral. It's the oldest cathedral in Texas and one of the oldest in the country and it's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Beautiful cathedral. The architecture is stunning and when you sit in the church you can picture the history!

Beautiful church, undergoing some construction out front. The inside of the cathedral was amazing! We were in the day after the service for the fallen Pope. Very somber feeling. Amazing to see the pipe organ! Beautiful cathedral backdrop! Just amazing! Glad we walked to see it.

This review is for the San Antonio: The Saga light show. The San Fernando light show was amazing! I visited in August and the show was running Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9, 9:30, and 10. We visited on a Friday evening and there were about 100 people watching. The light show projects images onto the cathedral facade along with music. The show lasts approximately 25 minutes and gives a history of the city of San Antonio. If you are not a Texan the history might be a little hard to follow. We sat on the floor right in front of the cathedral, but feel free to bring blankets or chairs if you don't want to sit on the floor. There is no parking in the area by the cathedral. We parked on a nearby street about a 10 minute walk away from the cathedral. Parking is unmetered and free after 6pm if you get lucky and find street parking.

Beautiful Historic Cathedral , well maintain. You must visit this Cathedral we you visit San Antonio. Love it !!

This beautiful church runs a light show several times a week. For up to date information on this, visit the website: http://www.mainplaza.org/san-antoniothe-saga/ The light show is free. During my visit in January, the show was running Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Show times were 9, 9:30 and 10. This show runs through a history of San Antonio, and lasts almost 25 minutes. The display is truly amazing and is a must-see if you are in town. I'd like to go back during the day to visit the inside of the church.

This is the most beautiful church I've ever been in and close to the Riverwalk. The remains of some of the Alamo Heroes are interred here. If you're a fan of stained glass, this is a must see.

This is my go-to Church for Spanish Mass every Sunday, and because of that this review will be Spanish ...sorry folks! Español: Voy a la misa de Español en la Catedral de San Fernando casi todos los Domingos. La Catedral es hermosa y es una de las catedrales Catolicas más antiguas (o la mas antigua) de todo el país. El solo estar ahi durante la misa y poder observar la arquitectura del lugar es totalmente increíble. En cuanto a la misa en español; hay un padre nuevo de Polonia que es muy joven y todavía se nota que necesita practicar mas su español y también su sermon. No es exactamente el mas entretenido en cuanto a sus sermones, pero siempre tiene un mensaje muy bonito de amor y paz. Definitivamente NO recomiendo la misa bilingüe porque esta demasiado "pocha" y la verdad siento que pierde todo el sentido. Les recomiendo despúes de misa pasar a visitar la estatua de San Juan Pablo II que se encuentra en la entrada principal de la Catedral. También en la parte posterior de la iglesia encontraran una estatua de la Virgen de Guadalupe con San Juan Diego.

To make our trip to Yelp Spring Break San Antonio complete, we attended "The Saga" at the San Fernando Cathedral. It was the highlight of our trip to YSBSA 2017 and it's 100% worthy of my #400 review spot. The San Fernando Cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic churches in America. The historic cathedral on the main plaza hosts a projected light show on the facade of the building, covering the rich history of San Antonio in the great state of Texas. The light show with music is played approximately three nights per week, it runs for approximately one half hour and the event is free for all. We brought a blanket and picnic basket and grabbed a center space on the plaza. Our dog was welcome. "The Saga" was created by artist Xavier de Richemont. It is a beautiful piece of work that we will never forget. It will also be the San Antonio I remember best! Thank you for this lovely gift! #YSBSA2017 #SanFernandoCathedral #TheSaga #XavierdeRichemont #BestofSanAntonio

You don't have to be devoutly religious to appreciate San Fernando Cathedral- it's beautiful architecture draws you in, and the historic art lends an added layer for those who appreciate history. Services here are available in English, Spanish, and Latin, and are even televised locally. Enter quietly when mass is going on, and see for yourself. SFC also makes a gorgeous wedding venue, and I've attended several here over the years. The photos always turn out amazing, and the staff are wonderful. Book in advance though, they have quite the wait list. If you're into more modern stuff, stop by in the evenings for The Saga- a light show projected onto the facade that tells of the history of Texas, San Antonio, and this cathedral specifically. If you haven't been already, you've got a couple years to catch one of the free showings- check the website for current hours, typically pretty late (9-10PM?).

The Free Light Show is awesome! What a very nice way to cap the night off. I think this light show changes depending on the season or maybe depending non what time you see it... not sure. But this is a great sneak-peak on the history of San Antonio, a 24-minute long very entertaining and informative light show projected on the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral. This cathedral is close to my heart, we have the same San Fernando Cathedral back home in Lucena City. How I wish I could organize the same free light show back home...that would be super awesome. Whenever we get the chance, and most of the time a spur of the moment, we go and see this light show. It's a must-see for tourists, local and visitors alike.

We walked here via the River Walk from The Alamo. The cathedral holds the tomb of Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, and Jim Bowie (Battle of the Alamo), but I didn't go inside to look for it. On Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 9:00pm, 9:30pm and 10:00pm there is a video/art projection that tells the story of the city on the facade of the cathedral. I wish I was able to see this, but we were only in San Antonio for the day. U.S. National Register of Historic Places

When I found out about the "Saga", a 24-minute art installation by french artist Xavier de Richemont that is the story of San Antonio in light projected images on the facade of the San Fernando Cathedral, I looked up the schedule and headed down to the Alamo town! Living in Austin, I never gave much credence to SA past the Alamo and Riverwalk, but after exploring the Missions Trail, seeing the Mummys of the World exhibit at the Witte and spending an evening at the Pearl Beer Factory, I have slowly become enamored with my neighbor city to the South. The cathedral itself is something to gawk at both historically and architecturally, but seeing the Saga was just breathtaking! I stayed for both showings and was wow-ed each time! Honestly, it is like nothing I have experienced before and some of the imagery is just breathtaking! It is perfect because it not only covers San Antonio's long and varied history, but delves into the cultures and eras that shaped the city into what it is today. I highly recommended checking the http://www.mainplaza.org/ website for schedules and info. And even if you don't make a viewing of the Saga, the cathedral and surrounding plaza is worth a visit as well!

This is a beautiful cathedral in the middle of Main Plaza, and also the main attraction during the nights that they do the San Antonio Saga, a must see if you're in town. The public is allowed inside to walk around, but please be respectful of those who are silent in prayer or reflection, as you don't want to ruin someone else's experience. I was surprised to find that the tomb of Davy Crockett, William B Travis, and Jim Bowie is here, and it is directly inside of the door on your left. There is no hunting for it, because it's right there and you can't miss it. If you appreciate history, architecture, and are just a fan of San Antonio exploration, then you should definitely stop here on your way through town.

If you haven't made it out to see the San Fernando Cathedral light show, you simply must do! A San Antonio native, this is one of my absolute favorite sights to bring visitors, friends, and family to see. The light show tells the story of San Antonio across the ages in spectacular design, using appropriate accompanying music, and is importantly created by a Latinx artist. I really don't know of anything in central Texas that honors the area's history in a more personal, wonderfully rendered, beautifully artistic, and enjoyable way. Really, it's stunning. It's great for families. Fun for kids. Perfect for a romantic precursor to a night on the town or roundup after a fine dinner at one of San Antonio's many wonderful and famous restaurants. Check it out! Make the time! The show is half an hour and totally worth the little effort it takes to carve an hour out of your schedule for parking and watching.

The oldest operating Catholic cathedral in the entire United States! The heroes of the Alamo have their final resting place here in the entryway of the church located right on Main Square. Talk about the holiest of holys for San Antonio! This church is a great example of Gothic Revival architecture, with the front started in 1868. The oldest part of this church was started in 1738 by the first settlers to San Antonio, Spanish Canary Island immigrants. This church's configuration and facade are the same style as the church at Mission San Antonio de Valero. Never hear of that mission? It's the one that collapsed, and was replaced by the Alamo in 1744. You can stop in to this church most days, and say a quick prayer. I came for Christmas mass, which was incredible!

Beautiful Catholic cathedral in the heart of San Antonio, built in 1731! Worth a visit! Since June 2014, French artist Xavier de Richemont's video collage has been projected onto the facade of the cathedral (weather permitting) at 9 pm, 9:30 pm, and 10 pm on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays! I've seen so many pictures of it, and I'm dying to see it in person!

Touristy thing #7. After touring the Alamo and learning memorable derails from Texas history, you must stop by here and pay your respects to three Alamo heroes: Travis, Bowie, and Crockett. (You can read Wikipedia for details about each one.) their ashes are interred in a marble coffin at the entrance to this beautiful cathedral. There was nothing going on here at the timing of our visit, but there's plenty of awe-inspiring sites inside. You can peruse all the pictures posted here. It is worth a visit.

You guys I can't explain how beautiful this church is inside and out. Truly a staple for San Antonio. A must do while in town is seeing the light show that's projected onto the cathedral. The show is about the history of San Antonio which was presented as a gift to the city. It's beautifully made and best part it's free! Visit their website for times and special occurrences.

While visiting San Antonio, I was given a tip from a friend back home that this was a must-see attraction. Staying with friends who knew their way around town, we all visited during the day and saw the cathedral in all its splendor and glory. There was a service going on, and I typically avoid touring during services. Upon conclusion of the service, I took a pleasant tour of the cathedral, viewing the beautiful stained glass windows as the sun lit them from outside. If you happen to be visiting in the area, try to stop by the cathedral to see the night time presentation of San Antonio - The Saga given on Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Tuesday nights at sundown. It is a great experience to see the cathedral lit up by two powerful cameras, displaying a visual story in all the vivid colors and lights, with background sounds to choreograph the presentation. All in all, a great tourist attraction and a must-see when visiting San Antonio.

San Fernando Cathedral is a beautiful link to the Spanish heritage of our wonderful city. Construction of the Cathedral began in 1738 and was completed in 1749. The cathedral has ties to the battle of the Alamo as well. James Bowie married Ursula de Veramendi at San Fernando in 1831. During the battle General Santa Ana raised the flag of "no quarter" from the tower of the church. By the entrance to the cathedral rests a marble coffin that reports to contain the remains of some of the defenders of the Alamo. Beautiful building inside and out. This is an active church so church services are often going on inside. please be respectful.

If you're visiting San Antonio, chances are that you'll at least spot the San Fernando Cathedral as you stroll along the Riverwalk. This Roman Catholic Church cathedral sits in the downtown area, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's one of the oldest (active) cathedrals in the U.S. as well. Even if you're not Catholic, it's worth taking a little bit of time out of your day to walk through the Cathedral; history fans may want to stop here if only because James Bowie was married inside this Cathedral. Plus the mixed architecture styles and bright decor can be appreciated by anyone and everyone, and the Cathedral highlights the role of religion and religious buildings in this part of the country through history. As other reviewers have mentioned, one of the most beautiful things to see at the San Fernando Cathedral actually takes place after its closed for the day. I'm referring to the "San Antonio: The Saga" show. This 24-minute film is a music-and-light show that's projected and broadcast directly onto the Cathedral. The beautiful imagery featured in these "Saga" screenings highlights different aspects of San Antonio's history - the many cultures that came together in the area, the development of the city through time, and the battles that so many think of when you mention San Antonio. The show is not narrated, so while anyone can appreciate it, I liked that I saw the show at the end of my trip to San Antonio; by then I had explored the area and read a lot about it, providing even more context for the imagery in "Saga." This show is well worth your time, so definitely consider catching it based on the most current showtime schedule if you can. There's a reason San Fernando Cathedral is included on tourist lists - it's well worth your time and it fits perfectly into a tour of the area. Definitely take the time to see if if you're traveling through San Antonio.

Americana relatively does not reach too far back into history compared to European or Asian cultures, but this cathedral (the seat of archbishop) is the oldest in the state of Texas, and one of the oldest ones in US. In fact, it is the oldest continuously used cathedral in US! So, you'd appreciate it even more when you visit this place. It was built between 1738 and 1750. The church was named for Ferdinand III of Castile, who ruled in the 13th century. The baptismal font is said to be the oldest liturgical furnishings in the cathedral. It is the symbolic religious, cultural, spiritual, and historical heart of the city of San Antonio, and there's the marker of the center of the city of San Antonio in the front section of the sanctuary to prove its significant presence. Perhaps one of the most interesting features of this church is the burial tomb of Davy Crockett, William B. Travis, and Jim Bowie. Those who remember about the story of the Alamo would recall these Texas heroes' names. Rich in Texas history and having some significant religious importance, this is a must visit place while you are visiting San Antonio.

What I love about San Antonio is that it has its modern touristy attractions while also maintaining and preserving its rich history. The Saint Fernando Cathedral has a light show every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday showcasing San Antonio's history from the beginning to today. The shows start at 9pm, 9:30pm, and 10pm. Each show lasts around 20 minutes. It's awesome to watch and learn about the history that makes San Antonio what it is today. And best of all: it's free! If you do decide to watch the show, make sure you bring a jacket because it will definitely get cold around 9pm-10pm and you don't want to be shivering while trying to enjoy the show.

Show times are 9, 9:30 and 10 p.m. on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. See the San Fernando Cathedral in a different light (pun intended) during this 24-minute show where lights projected perfectly onto the cathedral. It's a story of San Antonio history. There are chairs that are part of the Main Plaza but there's also ample space if you want to bring your own. Crowds are small so there's not much of a worry in regards to space. I went during Spring Break season in March and it still wasn't packed. Small bonus, there are often food trucks nearby to provide snacks.

I only have one word to describe it - "Wow". I finally made it to to see this wonderful light show by the amazing French artist, Xavier De Richemont. A one of a kind light show projected onto the San Fernando Cathedral, with great music, showing the history of San Antonio, from its humble beginnings to today. If you have guest during the holidays, this is a nice way of showing off our amazing city. You can check on mainplaza.org for times and dates.

I can't believe I missed out on this landmark all the previous times I went to San Antonio. On this particular weekend, I made it a goal to visit this spot. We were super lucky because it happened that Fiesta Fiesta was hosting a night market right at the base of the Cathedral. In addition to it being a beautiful place, we got the bonus of celebrating with thousands of people.

San Fernando de Bexar Cathedral is the oldest cathedral in the state of Texas! Its a work of art to say the least. A lot of detail went into the design of the Cathedral. A style that was so pronounced in the past. Within these walls a casket is displayed in it's own room in one of the entrances to the cathedral. In the casket lays the bones of the "heroes" of the Alamo... David Crockett, James Bowie, and William B. Travis. Although this Cathedral is a work of art as it stands, during some evening you can see it come to life as a laser light show paints the face of the cathedral with moving images and colors that turn into an illustrated story of Texas History! At the very least this is an impressive light and sound show that shouldn't be missed!

The light show was AMAZING and a great way to end my trip in San Antonio. There were a lot of people and police present which made me feel safe since it is later and dark. The show was incredible and gave me all the feels. The music, colors, and story told just made me love San Antonio even more. I would definitely recommend going to see it when you're visiting.