Credit: Photos by Gerald E. Mcleod

San Antonio – The Saga wraps San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio in colors, textures, and history. Conceived by world-renowned French artist Xavier de Riche­mont, the 24-minute video and sound collage uses the oldest continuously used church in Texas as its screen. Sometimes images obscure the ornate façade, and other times the designs accent the building’s shape.

The show tells the history of the Alamo City from the earliest Native Americans to the familiar faces of San Antonio Spurs. Surround-sound music by Tish Hinojosa, Flaco Jiménez, Scottish folksinger Donovan, and others is blasted through discreetly placed speakers on the Main Plaza.

More than two years in the making, this is de Richemont’s first video installation in the U.S. He has done similar projects in France, Germany, Spain, Morocco, Mexico, and Canada.

San Fernando Cathedral was constructed between 1738 and 1750 by Canary Islanders who first settled San Antonio de Béxar. The historic Gothic-style stone church has been enlarged and restored many times over the centuries.

San Antonio – The Saga plays on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 9, 9:30, and 10pm, except in extreme weather and during other cathedral events. The show will continue through 2024. Admission is free. The Main Plaza is at 115 N. Main, between Dolorosa and Commerce streets in downtown San Antonio. For more information, call 210/225-9800 or go to www.mainplaza.org/san-antoniothe-saga.

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Day Trips: San Antonio – The Saga

A version of this article appeared in print on Dec 11, 2015 with the headline: Day Trips: San Antonio – The Saga

This article appears in December 11 • 2015.

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Gerald E. McLeod joined the Chronicle staff in November 1980 as a graphic designer. In April 1991 he began writing the “Day Trips” column. Besides the weekly travel column, he contributed “101 Swimming Holes,” “Guide to Central Texas Barbecue,” and “Guide to the Texas Hill Country.” His first 200 columns have been published in Day Trips Vol. I and Day Trips Vol. II.