During our recent visit to California, my husband and I were so captivated by the beauty of the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, which you can read about on this link, that we decided to visit a few more missions along the path of our Pacific Highway coastal trip to San Francisco. The Mission of Santa Barbara is located at 2201 Laguna Street, was founded in Founded on the Feast of St. Barbara, December 4, 1786, and is known as the "Queen of the Missions." It was the first to be christened by Father Fermin Lasuen, and has continuously served as a parish church for the local population since its founding.
Santa Barbara was the tenth of twenty-one California Missions to be founded by the Spanish Franciscans. The original church was destroyed in 1925 by earthquake, but restorations have returned it to its original grandeur, and its twin bell towers and Doric facade present an imposing impression of strength.
The interior of the church is impressive. Its walls are full of beautiful religious themed paintings.
Some of the artwork and statues inside the Mission Santa Barbara Church.
A tribute statue to Father Junipero Serra, who had founded the first nine Missions, and had died 2 years before Mission Santa Barbara was founded. Notice the "El Camino Real, " or The Royal Highway, bell marker behind the statue. The missions were placed a day's walk from each other, about thirty miles apart. The entire span of missions along the El Camino Real is 650 miles, mainly along the present Highway 101. In the1920s bronze mission bells were placed along the highway to let motorists know they were traveling the historic El Camino Real, although almost all of them no longer contain signs that indicate the distance to the next Mission, as this one does.
The beautiful fountain in front of the Mission was built in 1808.
When the Mission period was over, the buildings were used for a number of purposes, such as a high school, a junior college, a seminary, and the Mission church today is used by the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Barbara.
The Mission occupies over 10 acres of beautifully manicured gardens, and also houses a museum.
Some of the beautiful pink roses in bloom in the Mission garden.
Just look at the size of this grape vine remnant from the year 1800!
Some of the interesting artifacts inside the Mission's museum.
The small carving above this door tell you that you are now entering the Mission cemetery.
Santa Barbara's culturally diverse early settlers are buried here as well as approximately 4,000 Indians, including Joana Maria, the abandoned woman of San Nicolas island. Her life is portrayed in the book "Island of the Blue Dolphins." She was buried here in 1853 but the exact location of her grave is not known.
Another interesting sight in the cemetery was a large Moreton Bay Fig Tree that was planted around 1890.
After our visit to the Mission of Santa Barbara we headed back onto the road, but this time we were taking a slight detour inland off the Pacific Coast Highway towards the Saint Inez Mountains to stay in a town that recommended by one of my husband's co-workers. I'm sure you will want to return to my blog to see it in my next post, as you will find it absolutely delightful!
I am linking this post to:
"Pink Saturday" on Beverly's blog How Sweet The Sound
"Spiritual Sunday" on the Spiritual Sunday blog
"Seasonal Sundays" on The Tablescaper blog
Many thanks to all the blog hosts!
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