San Antonio Texas is the second-largest city in the state, but this city enjoys a favored position at the heart of an international cultural junction. San Antonio was named after St. Anthony by a group of Spanish missionaries and got its start as a Catholic mission at the request of a certain Father Olivares.

The city is now popularly referred to as the Gateway to the American Southwest, although San Antonio is also a multicultural city-the tradition and cultures of Native Americans, Germans, African Americans and Mexicans are all evident in the city, from its architecture to its food and entertainment.

The city is home to the Alamo, the historic fort and site of the tragic Battle of the Alamo during the Texas War. The San Antonio River snakes through the downtown area of the city, and the Paseo del Rio or River Walk sits alongside it, the location of San Antonio's many cafes, restaurants and shops. San Antonio is also home to the largest Mexican marketplace outside of Mexico, and cathedrals, along with San Antonio's five famous missions, are sights that should not be missed, the most popular evidence of San Antonio's strong Spanish and Catholic heritage. The city is not pure history and culture, however. Modern amusement parks such as Sea World San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas are all located nearby.