Amidst all of the fun and sun in the leisure town of Todos Santos, you’ll find the actual place where it all began: The modest, yet strikingly beautiful site of Misión Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the mission, now a church, that has become a legacy in the history of Baja California Sur.
The now-yellow limestone building with white trim is gracefully landscaped alongside the view of the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. The stained-glass windows and tasteful adornments of Southern Baja artwork give little sign of church’s unpretentious origins. Yet if you tour the historical site, you’ll soon learn of its rich cultural history.
Humble Beginnings
At a time when Spanish missionaries were quickly moving across Baja, Father Jaime Bravo’s vision for a visita—a respite—for travelers along their journeys was the beginning of the mission in 1723 and the church in 1733. Ultimately, Fr. Bravo is credited with starting the village of Todos Santos, which then served as an agricultural hub for corn and sugar cane producers. The area’s temperate climate and rich soils had already established the area as an ideal place for farming by the Pericúe Indians.
Centuries Later
Fr. Bravo may never have imagined just how impactful his pioneering would be, as the town of Todos Santos would eventually spring up around the mission and church. As the area became a stopping point for travelers up and down the Pacific coast, the mission/church bore several names, initially designated Santa Rosa de Todos Santos, after its benefactor and patron saint, Doña Rose de la Peña, finally acquiring its current name given by Jesuit priest Segismundo Taraval. Today, the church remains active as a place of worship and as a tourist site, located in the heart of the town bearing its name.
The church is known as a Todos Santos wedding venues, and is a place you won’t want to miss on your visit to Todos Santos, one of the most popular and loved vacation spots in the Western Hemisphere. Come any time, or visit in October to attend the festival of the Virgin of Pilar and enjoy the food, the music, and a celebration of Baja culture you’ll never forget. And when you need to rest from all the fun, you can retreat to a restful night’s sleep at the Guaycura Hotel Boutique Todos Santos, just minutes away from Nuestra Señora de Pilar and all of the other Todos Santos sites.
