San Carlos Borromeo Mission

The San Carlos Borromeo cathedral was the first church we visited the day after we checked in at the Navy Lodge in Monterey. (These military deals are the best! It cost us $99 per night to stay in Monterey. As we would say, "Come on!") The mission was a mere one and a half miles from the Navy Lodge.

There are 21 mission churches in California, stretching from the south by the Mexican border to the north in Sonoma. The Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo was founded in 1770 by Fr. Serra, a Franciscan friar. It is the second oldest mission. To this day, it is said to be one of the most authentically restored mission churches in California. It is named for Carlo Borromeo, a cardinal and Milan’s Archbishop in the 1500's. He is the patron saint of seminarians and bishops.

The first two presidents of the California Missions, Fr. Serra and Fr. Lausen, are both buried here in San Carlos Borromeo.