Santa Barbara is a city that has a special place in our hearts thanks to the TV series of the same name. We are all familiar with the iconic arches that became the highlight of the opening sequence and made the television soap opera famous all over the world. Did you know that these arches and some scenes of the series were shot on the territory of the most important landmark in the city, and today you have the opportunity to visit it?

The building of Franciscan Santa Barbara Mission is located in the north-east of the center of Santa Barbara. It was founded on December 4, 1786, on the day of the memory of the Christian Martyr – Saint Barbara.

Over the two centuries of its history, Santa Barbara Mission has undergone many changes. It has witnessed the flags of Spain, Mexico, and the United States, and has been rebuilt and expanded many times. The current building was built in 1820 and has remained virtually unchanged since then. Several previous ones were destroyed by the strongest earthquakes, which often affect the entire city. So, the first earthquake triggered the construction of a new, more solid church, and the second led to an extensive and long restoration. Despite natural disasters, various social and political upheavals, Santa Barbara Mission survived and still receives parishioners and visitors to the city.

Santa Barbara Mission building is a fine example of Spanish colonial architecture with its light facades, twin towers, Baroque decorative elements, and many beautiful arches. It is no less impressive inside – it has a pleasant and cozy interior, against the background of which the gorgeous altar stands out. It attracts everyone's eyes and seems to glow from within.

Santa Barbara Mission serves as a gathering place and spiritual home for many local Christians. Today it includes not only a church, but also a historical museum, a cemetery, a tomb, gardens, a Franciscan monastery, and a community home. Mission also used to have an archive library, which is still located on its territory, but over time it has acquired the status of an independent educational and research institution. By the way, this is the oldest library not only in Santa Barbara but also in the entire state of California.