1. Church (Iglesia): The heart of the mission complex is the church, where religious services were held. The church at Mission San Juan Bautista features adobe walls, a tile roof, and a distinctive arched bell tower. It contains the main altar, pulpit, statuary, and other religious artifacts.
2. Cuarto de Indios (Native American Quarters): This area housed the Native American converts who lived and worked at the mission. It typically consisted of long, barracks-like buildings where the Native Americans slept, ate, and gathered.
3. Monastery (Convento): The monastery was the living quarters for the Franciscan friars who ran the mission. It usually included individual cells for the friars, as well as a kitchen, library, and other common areas.
4. Mission Workshop (Taller): The mission workshop was where various crafts and trades were practiced by the Native Americans under the guidance of the friars. It could include areas for carpentry, blacksmithing, weaving, and other activities.
5. Granary (Granero): The granary was used to store grain and other food supplies produced by the mission's agricultural activities. It was an essential structure for ensuring the mission's self-sufficiency.
6. Kitchen (Cocina): The mission kitchen was where food was prepared for the friars and Native American residents. It usually had a large fireplace or oven, as well as storage areas for food and cooking utensils.
7. Gardens and Orchards (Huerta y Huerto de Árboles Frutales): Many missions, including Mission San Juan Bautista, had gardens and orchards where they grew a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs. These crops provided sustenance for the mission community and could also be traded or sold.
8. Animal Corrals (Corral): The mission kept livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses. Animal corrals were used to house and manage these animals, which were important for providing food, transportation, and other resources.
These different parts of the mission formed a self-contained community where the friars worked to convert and educate the Native Americans while sustaining themselves through agriculture and various economic activities.
