Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo
The Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, also known as the Royal Presidio Chapel, is a National Historic Landmark located in Monterey California and is the oldest stone building within California.
Father Junipero Serra founded San Carlos Borromeo de Monterey in June 1770 constructing the original wood and adobe structure as the cornerstone of his planned mission. Due to an ongoing feud with the Military Governor of Alta California, Pedro Fages, father Serra relocated his mission to a place near the Carmel River in 1771 and turned control of the original church building over to the military officials in charge of the Presidio de Monterey.
Initially renamed the San Jose Chapel, the building was rechristened the Royal Presidio Chapel in 1777 when Monterey became the capital of Spanish California. The chapel served as the primary house of worship for soldiers stationed at the outpost until being destroyed by fire in 1789.
Following the 1789 fire, officials authorized the construction of a new and more permanent church made from local sandstone. Built primarily using native labor, the new structure was completed in 1794 making it the oldest continuously functioning church building in all of California. In 1840 the church was rededicated to the memory of Saint Carlo Borromeo, an Italian cardinal and major figure during the 16th century Counter-reformation. 9 years later the church was designated as California's first cathedral.
The cathedral itself is a mixture of Spanish colonial architecture mixed with Moorish embellishments. A series of unique portals adorn the sandstone facade of the church highlighted by a central niche containing the oldest non-indigenous statue in California, a representation of Our lady of Guadalupe.
