San Carlos Cathedral, Monterey (must see)
The Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, also known as the Royal Presidio Chapel, stands as a Roman Catholic cathedral situated in Monterey. This historic cathedral holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously functioning parish and the oldest stone structure in California. Its construction took place between 1791 and 1794, rendering it the oldest and smallest active cathedral in the United States, alongside Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana. It also holds the distinction of being the sole remaining presidio chapel in California and the sole surviving edifice from the original Monterey Presidio.
This church's roots trace back to its founding by the Franciscan Father Jun铆pero Serra, initially established as the chapel of Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on June 3, 1770. By May 1771, the viceroy had granted Serra's request to relocate the mission from the Presidio to its current location near the mouth of the Carmel River, where the present-day town of Carmel-by-the-Sea stands. The newly established mission was then christened Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.
Following the mission's relocation, the preexisting wooden and adobe structure transformed into the San Jose Chapel for the Presidio of Monterey. Monterey ascended to the role of the capital of the Province of Californias in 1777, leading to the renaming of the chapel as the Royal Presidio Chapel. Tragically, the original church succumbed to fire in 1789, leading to its replacement by the current sandstone edifice, which saw completion in 1794 through the labor of Indigenous workers. This structure took the form of a Latin Cross and bears the distinction of being California's inaugural stone building. It exemplifies the refined Spanish Colonial architectural style of the late 18th century.
This church's roots trace back to its founding by the Franciscan Father Jun铆pero Serra, initially established as the chapel of Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on June 3, 1770. By May 1771, the viceroy had granted Serra's request to relocate the mission from the Presidio to its current location near the mouth of the Carmel River, where the present-day town of Carmel-by-the-Sea stands. The newly established mission was then christened Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.
Following the mission's relocation, the preexisting wooden and adobe structure transformed into the San Jose Chapel for the Presidio of Monterey. Monterey ascended to the role of the capital of the Province of Californias in 1777, leading to the renaming of the chapel as the Royal Presidio Chapel. Tragically, the original church succumbed to fire in 1789, leading to its replacement by the current sandstone edifice, which saw completion in 1794 through the labor of Indigenous workers. This structure took the form of a Latin Cross and bears the distinction of being California's inaugural stone building. It exemplifies the refined Spanish Colonial architectural style of the late 18th century.
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San Carlos Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: San Carlos Cathedral
Sight Location: Monterey, USA (See walking tours in Monterey)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Monterey, USA (See walking tours in Monterey)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Monterey, California
Create Your Own Walk in Monterey
Creating your own self-guided walk in Monterey is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Monterey Introduction Walking Tour
Monterey is one of California's oldest cities, having been settled since 1770. The Spanish and Mexican governments both used the city as a capital for Alta California. Monterey offered many important firsts for California during this era, including a newspaper and printing press, public school, library, and theater.
This city was the location for the first constitutional convention in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
This city was the location for the first constitutional convention in... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Monterey State Historic Park Walk
Monterey State Historic Park is a National Landmark and a part of the Monterey Old Town Historic District. Found on the grounds here are a group of significant old-time houses that once made up California's earliest capital and were the site of the state's first constitutional convention. Today these buildings retain their rich heritage, preserving an important part of Californian as... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Cannery Row Walking Tour
Cannery Row 鈥� the waterfront street in Monterey, California 鈥� was once home to a number of sardine canning factories, the last of which closed down in 1973. The former nickname for Ocean View Avenue became the street's official name in January 1958 to honor John Steinbeck and his famous eponymous novel. In the novel's opening sentence, Steinbeck described Cannery Row as "a poem,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles