Self-guided Sightseeing Tour #3 in San Jose, United States

Legend

Churches & Art
Nature
Water & Wind
Historical
Heritage & Space
Tourism
Paid Tours & Activities

Tour Facts

Number of sights 8 sights
Distance 2.6 km
Ascend 75 m
Descend 81 m

Experience San Jose in United States in a whole new way with our free self-guided sightseeing tour. This site not only offers you practical information and insider tips, but also a rich variety of activities and sights you shouldn't miss. Whether you love art and culture, want to explore historical sites or simply want to experience the vibrant atmosphere of a lively city - you'll find everything you need for your personal adventure here.

Activities in San JoseIndividual Sights in San Jose

Sight 1: The First Unitarian Church of San José

Show sight on map

The First Unitarian Church of San Jose is located at 160 North Third Street in downtown San Jose, California, across from St. James Park, and was designed in "Richardsonian Romanesque" style by architect George Page, who also designed the Hayes Mansion. Local historian Linda Larson Boston called the building, “One of a handful of American churches patterned after Unitarian churches of Transylvania, it features a large triple-arched stained glass window on the facade, multiple domes and cupolas, and both round and square towers,” in her pamphlet, Highlights of San Jose, California’s St. James Park and Environs. The congregation purchased the site in 1888, and the cornerstone was laid in a ceremony on September 23, 1891. The building is registered on both the list of National Register of Historic Places and the list of California Historical Landmarks.

Wikipedia: First Unitarian Church of San Jose (EN), Website

281 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 2: Trinity Cathedral

Show sight on map

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral in San Jose, California. It is the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real.

Wikipedia: Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (San Jose, California) (EN), Website

300 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 3: Bank of Italy Building

Show sight on map

The Bank of Italy Building is a 14-story, 77.72 m (255.0 ft) Renaissance Revival high-rise built in 1925 in downtown San Jose, California. This building became the second home to the first branch of the Bank of Italy, founded in San Francisco in 1904, which later became the Bank of America. The first location of the Bank of Italy in San Jose, was on the corner of Santa Clara St. and Lightson Alley, near the intersection with Market Street. Restaurants and other businesses occupy the original building, which has been heavily remodeled. A reconstruction of the original building is at History Park in San Jose.

Wikipedia: Bank of Italy Building (San Jose, California) (EN)

200 meters / 2 minutes

Sight 4: Downtown Historic District

Show sight on map
Downtown Historic DistrictDavid Sawyer from Campbell, California, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Downtown Historic District of San Jose, California is a designated U.S. Historic District area of the city roughly the size of one square block. It is bounded by S. First Street to the west, E. San Fernando Street to the south, S. Third Street to the east, and E. Santa Clara Street to the north, but also includes the south side of E. Santa Clara Street between Third and Fourth Streets.

Wikipedia: Downtown Historic District (San Jose, California) (EN)

540 meters / 6 minutes

Sight 5: Plaza de César E. Chávez

Show sight on map

The Plaza de César Chávez is an urban plaza and park in Downtown San Jose, California. The plaza's origins date to 1797 as the plaza mayor of the Spanish Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, making it the oldest public space in Northern California. The plaza was rededicated after Californian civil rights activist César Chávez in 1993.

Wikipedia: Plaza de César Chávez (EN)

345 meters / 4 minutes

Sight 6: Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph

Show sight on map
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph David Leigh Ellis / CC BY-SA 3.0

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph is a historic Catholic church in Downtown San Jose that serves as the cathedral for the Diocese of San José in California, with the distinction of minor basilica.

Wikipedia: Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph (San Jose) (EN), Website

655 meters / 8 minutes

Sight 7: Luis María Peralta Adobe

Show sight on mapGet Ticket*

The Peralta Adobe, also known as the Luis María Peralta Adobe or the Gonzales-Peralta Adobe, is the oldest building in San Jose, California. The adobe was built in 1797 by José Manuel Gonzeles, one of the founders of San Jose, and is named after Luis María Peralta, its most famous resident.

Wikipedia: Peralta Adobe (EN)

278 meters / 3 minutes

Sight 8: Pellier Park

Show sight on map

Pellier Park, is a city park covering 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) in San Jose, California, United States, located in close proximity to San Pedro Square. This park holds historical significance as it was once home to City Gardens, a nursery founded by Louis Pellier (1817–1872), who is known as the pioneer of California's prune industry. In October 1850, Pellier established the City Gardens, where with the assistance of his brothers Pierre and Jean, he introduced the French prune, also known as "la petite prune d'Agen," which translates to "the little Agen plum," to California during the winter of 1856. The California Historical Landmark No. 434 now marks the location of the City Gardens site. The park dedicated to California's "Prune King" was officially reopened in a public ceremony on October 18, 2023.

Wikipedia: Pellier Park (EN), Website

Share

Spread the word! Share this page with your friends and family.

How likely are you to recommend us?


Disclaimer Please be aware of your surroundings and do not enter private property. We are not liable for any damages that occur during the tours.

GPX-Download For navigation apps and GPS devices you can download the tour as a GPX file.