Convento
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The Spanish word convento does not mean "convent," but rather describes a group of buildings or rooms built around a square and connected to a mission church. These rooms generally included a residence for the missionary, a kitchen, workshops such as a leather shop, blacksmith shop, etc., classrooms, and sometimes dormitory rooms for young, unmarried people. All that remains above ground of Tumacácori's convento is a portion of the missionary's quarters. Even that, however, requires continuous work to maintain and preserve what is left.
Photo by David Yubeta
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Did You Know?
The Santa Cruz River begins in the Patagonia Mountains of southern Arizona, runs south into Mexico, makes a sweeping U-turn and continues north through Sonora, Mexico and Arizona to join the Gila River and eventually the Colorado River which empties into the Gulf of California.