Visitas facts for kids

Visitas or asistencias were like small branch offices of the main Catholic missions. They were set up by the Spanish during the 1500s to 1800s in places they colonized, like the Americas and the Philippines. These smaller spots helped the Catholic Church and the Spanish government connect with native populations without spending too much money.

What Were Visitas?

Visitas were much smaller than the main missions. They usually had a church, some living areas, workshops, and fields for growing food. A small group of priests and a few native people (called "neophytes" at the time) lived and worked there to keep things running.

Sometimes, if a visita became very important, it would be upgraded to a full mission. This meant adding more buildings, improving roads, and giving it a new name after a Catholic saint.

San Antonio de Pala was a smaller branch of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Pala, California.

In Spanish Florida, a visita was a mission spot without a priest living there all the time. The church buildings were often simple, or sometimes there wasn't even a church. Visitas were often found in smaller villages connected to a larger town that had a "doctrina" – a main mission with priests living there.

A Look at History

The first known visita was in a village called Soloy, in what is now Florida. It started as a fort in 1567 but became a visita for Mission Nombre de Dios in the early 1600s.

More visitas were built in Spanish Florida during the early 1600s. Records show four visitas for Mission San Pedro de Mocama and nine for Mission San Juan del Puerto.

In the early 1600s, visitas were also set up in areas that are now New Mexico and Sonora. Much later, around 1765, the last visita in New Mexico, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Pojoaque, was established.

The last visita founded in Sonora was San Valentin de Bisanig in 1706. The founding of new missions stopped after 1772.

Missions and visitas also began in Baja California in 1684. The first visita there was San Juan Bautista Londó in 1699, which served Mission Nuestra Señora de Loreto Conchó. The last one in Baja California was San Telmo in 1798.

In 1687, Father Eusebio Kino started setting up missions and visitas in an area called Pimería Alta, which includes parts of modern-day Arizona. He established visitas at places like Huachuca, Quiburi, and Santa Cruz. San Ignacio de Sonoitac, which was a large native village, became a visita around 1737.

In 1692, San Agustín del Tucson was started as a visita for Mission San Xavier del Bac. It became a full mission, Mission San Cosme y Damián de Tucsón, in 1768.

Between 1749 and 1750, a big colonization effort happened along the Lower Rio Grande Valley, led by José de Escandón. Towns like Reynosa, Camargo, Mier, and Guerrero] were founded in what is now Mexico, along with missions. The visitas for these missions were actually built in present-day Texas, making them the only ones within its current borders.

The mission system in California began in 1769 with Mission San Diego de Alcala. The first asistencia (another name for visita) in California, Santa Paula, was founded around 1782 for Mission San Buenaventura. More asistencias were set up for 6 of the 21 missions in California.

Visitas in America

Here are some of the visitas found in different parts of America, listed by when they were established.

California Visitas

Spanish Asistencias in California

Name	Image	Location	Established	Notes
Santa Paula		34.35584, -119.05086	1782 or after	It served Mission San Buenaventura.
Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles	Site of Nuestra Señora Reina de los Ángeles Asistencia	34.05702, -118.2392	1784	It served Mission San Gabriel Arcángel.
San Pedro y San Pablo	San Pedro y San Pablo Asistencia	37.58714, -122.49391	1786	It served Mission San Francisco de Asís.
Santa Margarita de Cortona	Ruins of Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia	35.40197, -120.6122	1787	It served Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.
Santa Gertrudis	Monument at Santa Gertrudis Asistencia	34.34752, -119.29704	Between 1792 and 1809	It served Mission San Buenaventura.
San Antonio de Pala	San Antonio de Pala Asistencia	33.36591, -117.07419	June 13, 1816	It served Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.
San Rafael Arcángel	Reconstructed chapel at Mission San Rafael Arcángel	37.97427, -122.52798	1817	It originally served Mission San Francisco de Asís, and later became a full mission in 1822.
Santa Ysabel	Santa Ysabel Asistencia church around 1875	33.13057, -116.67786	1818	It served Mission San Diego de Alcalá.
Las Flores	San Pedro Chapel at Las Flores Estancia	33.299722, -117.460833	1823	It served Mission San Luis Rey de Francia.

Arizona Visitas

Spanish Visitas in Arizona

Name	Image	Location	Established	Notes
Walpi		Below First Mesa	Around 1629	It served Mission San Francisco de Oraibi. The visita's specific name is unknown.
San Buenaventura de Mishóngnovi		Below Second Mesa	Around 1629	It served Mission San Bartolomé de Shungópove.
San Cayetano del Tumacácori		On the east side of the Santa Cruz River	January 1691	It served Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi for many years.
Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi	Ruins of Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi	31.41007, -110.90198	1691	It started as a mission but became a visita of San José de Tumacacori around 1773.
San Ignacio de Sonoitac	Map showing Sonoitac	Near Patagonia	1692	It served Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi.
San Agustín del Tucson	Historic photo of San Agustín del Tucson	32.21346, -110.98703	1692	It served Mission San Xavier del Bac. In 1768, it became a full mission.
San Martín de Aribac	Map showing Arivaca	Arivaca	1695	Also known as Santa Gertrudes de Arivaca, it served Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi.
San Joaquín de Basosucan		Babacomari Ranch	1696-1697	Also known as San Joaquín de Huachuca.
Santa Cruz de Gaybanipitea		Along the San Pedro River	Around 1731	It served Mission Santa María Suamca.
Santa Ana de Quiburi		Along the San Pedro River	Around 1731	It served Mission Santa María Suamca.
San Cayetano de Calabazas	Ruins of San Cayetano de Calabazas	31.45252, -110.95945	1756	It served Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi. It later became a mission, then a visita again, and was abandoned in 1786.
Santa Gertrudis de Tubac			By 1763	It served Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi.

New Mexico Visitas

Spanish Visitas in New Mexico

Name	Image	Location	Established	Notes
San Buenaventura de Cochití	Mission San Buenaventura de Cochití	35.608056; -106.345833	Early 1600s	It served Mission Santo Domingo, but later became a mission itself.
San Buenaventura de Humanas	Gran Quivira at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument	34.25962, -106.09231	1626	It served Mission San Gregorio de Abó, and by 1629 became a full mission.
San Luis Obispo de Sevilleta			1627	It was originally a mission, but was later made a visita of Nuestra Señora de Perpetuo Socorro. It was abandoned in 1680.
Santa Clara	Santa Clara Pueblo church	35.96783, -106.08796	1628	It first served Mission San Juan Bautista de los Caballeros. It was destroyed during the Pueblo Revolt and rebuilt to serve Mission San Ildefonso.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Pojoaque			Around 1765	It served San Francisco de Nambé.

Texas Visitas

Spanish Visitas in Texas

Name	Image	Location	Established	Notes
San Agustín de Laredo (Camargo)	Map showing San Agustín de Laredo Visita	26.37135, -98.8563	1749	It served Mission San Agustín de Laredo, which was located in Camargo.
San Joaquin del Monte (Reynosa)	Map showing San Joaquin del Monte Visita	26.10515, -98.26046	1749	It served Mission San Joaquín del Monte, which was located in Reynosa.
La Purísima Concepción (Mier)	Map showing La Purísima Concepción Visita	26.46043, -99.02966	1750	It served Mission La Purísima Concepción, which was located in Mier.
San Francisco Solano de Ampuero (Revilla)	Map showing San Francisco Solano de Ampuero Visita	26.90166, -99.26678	1750	It served Mission San Francisco Solano de Ampuero, which was located in present-day Guerrero.

Spanish Florida Visitas

Visitas in Mexico

Here are some of the visitas found in different parts of Mexico, listed by when they were established.

Baja California Visitas

Baja California Sur Visitas

Sonora Visitas

Spanish Visitas in Sonora

Name	Image	Location	Established	Notes
Concepción Curimpo			After 1614	It served Mission Natividad Navojoa.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Tepahui			After 1614	It served Mission San Andrés Conicari.
San Ignacio de Tesia			Around 1614	It served Mission Santa Catarina de Camoa.
Espíritu Santo Cócorit			Before 1617	It started as a mission, then served Mission Santa Rosa de Bácum after 1617.
Trinidad Potam			1617	It served Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Rahum.
San Francisco Xavier de Cumuripa			1619	It originally served Mission San Francisco de Borja de Tecoripa. Later, it became a main mission with two visitas.
San Francisco Buenavista			1619	It served Mission San Francisco Xavier de Cumuripa. This visita is now underwater.
San José de Pimas			1620	It originally served Mission San Francisco de Borja de Tecoripa. It became a main mission in 1771.
San Ignacio de Suaqui			1620	It served Mission San Francisco de Borja de Tecoripa.
San Joaquin y Santa Ana de Nuri			1622	It served Mission Santa Maria de Movas.
San Ignacio Bacanora			1627	It originally served Mission San Francisco Xavier de Arivechi.
Santa Rosalía de Onapa			1627	It served Mission San Francisco Xavier de Arivechi. It eventually became a mission.
Pondia			1627	It served Mission San Francisco Xavier de Arivechi.
San Francisco de Soyopa			1628	It served Mission San Ignacio (de Loyola) de Ónavas.
Santa María del Populo de Tónichi			1629	It served Mission San Ignacio (de Loyola) de Ónavas.
Nuestra Senora Asuncion Alamos			1629	It served Mission San José de Mátape.
Santa Cruz de Nácori			1629	It served Mission San José de Mátape.
Santa Rosalia			1637	It served Mission San Miguel de Ures.
Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Baviácora			1638	It was originally a main mission, but later became a visita of San Pedro Aconchi.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Nacámeri			1638	It served Mission San Miguel de Ures, Mission Nuestra Señora del Populo del Seri, and Mission Nuestra Señora de la Ascención de Opodepe.
San Pedro Aconchi			1639	It started as a visita of Mission Nuestra Señora de la Concepción de Baviácora. Over time, that mission became its visita.
San Lorenzo de Güepaca			1639	It had a visita at Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Banámichi. Later, it became a visita of Banámichi.
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Beramitzi		30.00765, -110.21768	1639	It originally served Mission San Lorenzo de Güepaca. It eventually became a main mission.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Opodepe			1644	Originally served Mission Los Santos Reyes de Cucurpe. In 1762, it became a mission.
San Luis Gonzága de Bacadéhuachi			1645	It served Mission Nuestra Señora de Nácori Chico. Eventually, it became a mission.
Santo Tomás de Serva			1645	It served Mission Nuestra Señora de Nácori Chico.
San Ignacio Mochapa			1645	It served Mission San Luis Gonzága de Bacadéhuachi.
San Miguel de Bavispe			1645	It served Mission Santa María de Baserac.
San Juan Evangelista de Huachinera			1645	Originally served Mission Santa María de Baserac. It became a mission by 1688.
San Ignacio de Oputo			1645	It served Mission San Francisco Xavier de Guásavas.
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Cumpas			1645	It originally served Mission San Miguel Arcángel de Oposura, then Mission San Francisco Xavier de Guásavas.
San Ignacio de Sinoquipe			1646	It served Mission Nuestra Señora de los Remedios de Beramitzi.
San Miguel Tuape			1647	It served Mission Los Santos Reyes de Cucurpe.
San Miguel Bacoachi			1648	It served Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Arizpe.
San José de Chinapa			1648	It served Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Arizpe.
Santa Rosa de Tebadéguachi			1653	It served Mission (Nuestro Padre) San Ignacio de Cuquiarachi.
Guadalupe de T(e)uricachi			1653	It served Mission (Nuestro Padre) San Ignacio de Cuquiarachi.
San Francisco Xavier de Rebeico			1673	It served Mission San José de Mátape.
San Ildefonso de Yécora			1673	It originally served Mission Santa Rosalia de Onapa.
San Francisco Xavier de Maicoba			1676	It served Mission San Ildefonso de Yécora.
San José de Imuris			1687	It served Mission (Nuestro Padre) de San Ignacio de Cabórica.
San Juan de Bisani(n)g			Likely 1690s	It served Mission La Purísima Concepción de Nuestra Señora de Caborca. It was briefly a mission in 1694.
Santa María Magdalena		30.6302, -110.9734	1690	It served Mission (Nuestro Padre) de San Ignacio de Cabórica.
San Antonio (Paduano) de(l) Oquitoa	Mission San Antonio de Oquitoa	30.74371, -111.73494	1690	Founded by Father Eusebio Kino as a visita to Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama.
Santa Teresa de Atil			1692	It served Mission San Pedro y San Pablo del Tubutama.
San Diego del Pitiquito	Mission San Diego del Pitiquito at night	30.67504, -112.05761	1694	It served Mission La Purísima Concepción de Nuestra Señora de Caborca.
San Lázaro			1695	It served Mission Santa María Suamca.
San Luis Baconacos			1697	It served Mission Los Santos Ángeles de Guevavi at different times.
Santa María de Bugota/Santa María de Suamca			1698	It served Mission Nuestra Señora del Pilar y Santiago de Cocóspera.
San Ambrosio del Busanic y Tucubavia			1698	It served Mission Santa Gertrudis del Sáric.
San Bernardo de Aquimuri			Between 1700-1701	Founded by Father Eusebio Kino. It served Mission Santa Gertrudis del Sáric.
San Ildefonso de Ostimuri				It served Mission Santa Rosalia de Onapa.

See also

• Estancia – A Spanish colonial ranch.
• Reductions – Communities where native people were gathered by missionaries.