California Missions – San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo
Founded: June 3, 1770 – Second of the California Missions
Special Designation: Father of the Alta California Missions
Named For: Saint Charles of Borremeo, a 16th century Italian cardinal.
Mission Site: Originally established at the presidio in Monterey but relocated in 1771 to the Carmel Valley on a hillside that was “two gunshots” from the ocean.
Layout: An irregular shaped quadrangle. Only the ruins of the church remained standing when restoration began in 1921, so extensive excavation of the old foundation was required to determine the precise layout of the mission.
Mission Church: The stunning Carmel church (the seventh Carmel church) was completed and dedicated in 1797. The sandstone for the church was quarried by Indian laborers under the direction of master stonemasons Manuel Esteban Ruiz and Santiago Ruiz. The walls are five feet thick at the base.
Special Attraction: One of the most popular attractions is the elaborate Serra Memorial Cenotaph (a momunent not a tomb) sculpted in 1924 by Jo Mora. This is made of travertine marble and bronze and shows life-sized figures of Fr. Serra and three other pioneer missionaries, all of whom are buried under the church sanctuary.
Current Status: A Catholic Church designated a Minor Basilica in 1969 by Pope John XXIII.
