#242 Mission Santa Barbara

Mission Santa Barbara is nicknamed the 'Queen of the Missions' because of its graceful, yet grand exterior. Founded on December 4th, 1786, the feast day of Saint Barbara, it is the 10th of the 21 Missions. The current Mission was completed in 1820 after an earthquake destroyed most of the original in 1812 and the interior remains almost completely unchanged. Each May, the I Madonnari Italian Street Painting Festival showcases beautiful chalk paintings by 150 artists.