Founded by the Franciscan monks as the tenth mission on their slow journey north by the California coastline, this is by far the best preserved one. The big monastery and church evoke images of European grandeur and seem oddly in place in the rugged California coastline. The visit takes in the church and the monastery and comprises quite a bit of the art that the monks brought with them. As this si the best architectural remnant from the Spanish rule of California, this is a must-see if you find yourself in Santa Barbara.
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