The town of San Juan Bautista rapidly grew up around the mission, which was founded in 1797. It was a principle stagecoach stop on the road from Los Angeles to San Francisco and was the turn-off for the road leading to Monterey and Santa Cruz.
The town square is the only remaining Spanish plaza in California. Lying along the northwest side of the plaza, the mission, which is open to the public, serves as an active church ministering to a predominantly Spanish-speaking parish.
The 19th century buildings that form the southwest & southeast sides of the plaza form a California State Historical Park, while on the fourth side lies the infamous San Andreas Fault.
To anyone interested in history or in seeing rural California, I would heartily recommend a visit. It is an easy day trip down from San Francisco.
"THE WHOLE TRUTH"