We explored San Antonio's historic King William neighborhood today, which consists of several blocks of mid 19th and early 20th century homes in various states of preservation. Many have been restored to pristine condition, and a few are literally rotting into oblivion. The houses range from mansions to bungalows. The ones dating from the 1870's through 1900 are highly elaborate with filigreed decorations and elaborate iron or wood work. One 1876 house, known as Villa Finale, has been restored to its original condition, complete with coach house, and wash house. The servant's quarters are now the ticket office for tours. Many of the houses have neoclassical detailing in the finest Southern tradition. It is a truly amazing display of diverse architectural styles.
The original village settlement of San Antonio, La Villita, has been preserved as a quaint shopping area near downtown. Many of the buildings date from 1830-50, and have all of their original detailing. Most are now art galleries and antique shops. After lunch outside on the Riverwalk at a dog-friendly restaurant (with Cooper being a very good dog), we walked to San Fernando Cathedral, which is the oldest cathedral sanctuary in the US, dating from 1731. It is in perfect condition and contains a very elaborate altarpiece that is entirely covered in gold leaf. The bones of the Alamo Heroes, including David Crockett, and Jim Bowie are contained in a large marble sarcophagus just inside the church's entrance.
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