Mission San Fernando Rey de España is sure to be on any history enthusiast's list of must-see historic places in California.
It was on my list for a long time.
I was finally able to visit the mission earlier this week. Here I will share some history of the mission, along with the photos I took during my visit.
History overview of Mission San Fernando Rey de España courtesy of Wikipedia:
The mission was founded on September 8, 1797, and was the seventeenth of the twenty-one Spanish missions established in Alta California. Named for Saint Ferdinand, the mission is the namesake of the nearby city of San Fernando and the San Fernando Valley.
The goals of the missions were, first, to spread the message of Christianity and, second, to establish a Spanish colony. Because of the difficulty of delivering supplies by sea, the missions had to become self-sufficient in relatively short order. Toward that end, neophytes were taught European-style farming, animal husbandry, mechanical arts and domestic crafts.
The mission went through numerous changes during the 19th century. As the native population decreased, so did farm production and maintenance of the buildings. Source: WaterandPower.org
The mission was sold in 1846 and operated in a plethora of ways in the years to follow, including being used as a warehouse and as a hog farm. In 1861 the church regained use of the mission and 75 acres of land. Today the mission is used as a museum and as a chapel-of-ease. Source: Wikipedia
Known for it's iconic twenty-one Roman arches, the Convento is the largest adobe building in all of California. Built in 1822, the Convento is the last original structure at the mission. Source: Wikipedia
The Convento was protected by iron gates and netting, so it was difficult to get a clear shot of the long portico (also known as the "colonnade"). I took this photo through the netting looking straight down the portico from one side to the other. It's a magnificent building, truly stunning in architecture and design.
The mission is part of the historic El Camino Real, a 600 mile road connecting all 21 of the California Spanish missions.
Inside the mission walls the layout of the buildings are in a traditional quadrangle, with a courtyard in the middle. Notice the olive trees in the above photo. The land is abundant in fruit bearing trees, including oranges, persimmons, and pomegranates.
Every feature of the mission was stunning in it's own right; the archway through the garden, the tiny circular windows with iron detail, and even the doorways were amazing.
This fountain was in the center of the courtyard, and was a nice resting place that allowed for a cool breeze and a beautiful view of the grounds. Exploring the mission was like walking through the past. I'll definitely visit the mission again; it's beauty is far too enticing to not experience repeatedly.
I hope you enjoyed this virtual tour of the grounds of Mission San Fernando Rey de España. If you are ever in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend a visit!
Thank you for viewing my post. I appreciate your feedback and support!
-Birdie
Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i
(All photos by Birdie)