San Antonio: San Fernando Cathedral

Large church with three entrances and two square front towers
Interior of church with vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, and an altar with gold embellishment
Marble tomb labeled “Tomb of the Heroes of the Alamo”

Tomb of the Heroes of the Alamo

Detail of tomb showing photographs of three men labeled “Texas Heroes”

Tomb of the Heroes of the Alamo close up

Artwork showing four men in front of a Texas flag projected on the front of a large church

San Antonio, The Saga art projection show at San Fernando

Drawing of soldiers gathering for a battle at a complex with low brick walls and open fields behind

Santa Anna’s assault of the Alamo by Henri Gentilz

Soldiers standing in front of a low brick wall with a pink bell tower and church dome behind the wall. Soldiers raising a red flag atop the bell tower

The Red Flag is Raised (G.T. Johnson II)

Sheet music titles Toques Particulares pala Caballeria, commonly known as El Degüello

El Degüello sheet music (Southwestern Historical Quarterly)

San Fernando Cathedral is the oldest standing church in Texas. In 1836, General Santa Anna hung the flag of “No Quarter” from its tower, beginning the siege of the Alamo, one of the most famous battles in American history.

Today, visitors to the cathedral can see the sarcophagus said to contain the remains of the Alamo defenders, laid to rest by San Antonio native Juan Seguín.

A film called San Antonio: The Saga is played on the facade of the cathedral at 9, 9:30 and 10pm each Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

San Fernando Cathedral 

  • Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Sunday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • 115 Main Plaza, San Antonio, TX
  • 210-227-1297
  • Visit Website
  • National Register of Historic Places
  • This is an active church. Please be respectful of services.
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