History:
Founded in 1770, this is California’s second-oldest mission after San Diego. Father Junipero Serra only lived to see 9 out of the 21 missions, but of those nine this was his favorite so he chose to live here. The mission was originally located in Monterey, but it was too close to the Presidio and the soil was bad, so they moved it to the other side of the bay near the Carmel River where it is currently located. One of the main reasons for the move away from the Presidio is because the military governor of California, Pedro Fages, was located there, and there was a power struggle between church and state which was epitomized by Serra and Fages. After Serra’s death, he was succeeded in his role as Presidente of the missions by Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen, who also resided here. In 1985, Pope John Paul II declared Fr. Serra “venerable†(though not a saint), and he visited the Carmel mission in 1987 to pay tribute to Serra.
Patron Saint:
Carlos Borromeo (1538-84) was a saint in the Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Milan, Italy, during his lifetime. He worked against the Protestants during the Counterreformation and presided over the proceedings during the Council of Trent. The Monterey Bay was named after the Count of Monterrey, Emmanuel Fonseca y Zuñiga, the Viceroy of Naples, Italy.
Distinctives:
-Father Junipero Serra’s base, and where he died (on August 28, 1784) and was buried. His tomb is elaborately displayed in the small chapel.
-Instead of a flat roof, the main chapel has a distinctively curved ceiling called a catenary arch.
-The mission’s library was California’s first library!
-This was the location of the first Christian confirmation in California.
My Opinion:
Tranquil and gorgeous, how can you go wrong when you’re located in Carmel-by-the-Sea? No wonder Fr. Serra chose this as his base! The main building / chapel is truly unique—it is of a different color and shape (because it is of Moorish design) than the other missions. The courtyard is expansive, and the gardens are small but charming. Totally worth a visit. It’s not only the second mission to be founded, it’s my second favorite one! (which is my favorite? Stay tuned!)
Ranking: #2 / 21
