Mission Santa Barbara

Touted as the Queen of the Missions, the Santa Barbara Mission is indeed majestic in its presence. Set in the hills overlooking Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean, it seems to survey its kingdom below.

The style of the mission is of a Roman temple after the renderings of Vitrius Pollio. This is in keeping with the Roman ancestry of its namesake, Saint Barbara who was beheaded by her pagan father.

There's an incredible amount to see at the mission including informative displays, artifacts, and the gardens area. There are busloads of people arriving constantly. The grounds are nice, and there's the remains of a grist mill and the irrigation system across the street. But the real tour starts after you pay your $4 in the gift shop.

Parking was plentiful, at least on the day I was there. There was a small parking area in the front,, and a larger parking lot in the back.