Culture of Santa Barbara. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The main historical landmark of the resort city of Santa Barbara is a missionary church which was built at the end of the 18th century. The construction of this religious landmark was initiated by Spanish conquerors. The building of the church features a unique architectural style. At present the church hosts a museum which collection is devoted to the history of this tourist destination. Tourists will be offered to estimate the charm and beauty of the inner court of the church during a visit.

An impressive architectural landmark is the building of the County Courthouse. The huge building is executed in keeping to the best traditions of the Moresque style. The court complex takes a whole city quarter. Close to the building of the court tourists will discover an ancient bell tower on the top of which one will find a perfect sightseeing platform. After walking along the walls of the ancient construction all the visitors may enjoy the beauty of the landmark and embrace the glory of the city from the platform. One of the most visited cultural establishments of the city is located in close vicinity to the building of the County Courthouse. The University Art Museum is a recommended spot to visit during Santa Barbara vacation.

The museum keeps a rich collection of artworks by local and foreign painters. The museum often holds exhibition of works of contemporary artists and photographers. The Santa Barbara Historical Museum offers its visitors another interesting collection to explore. It should be noted that the museum features free entrance. Among its priceless showpieces its visitors will discover a unique collection of objects of arts, stunning archeological findings and old photos as well as antique furniture, books and historical documents. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Curious travelers will love to visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History being one of the most interesting museums of the city. Its collection presents more than three million showpieces. Prehistoric animals and birds skeletons, a rich collection of insects, ancient geological maps and records as well as anthropological showpieces will turn an excursion into an unforgettable experience.

Among other remarkable sites and landmarks of the resort city tourists should pay a visit to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. Its exploration will be more of an adventurous journey rather than of educational tour and traditional observation of showpieces. The Santa Barbara Museum of Art invites tourists to estimate priceless works by local artists. A tour through city streets will be of great pleasure as well. The city of Santa Barbara has preserved great many of Spanish houses, scenic alleys and cozy charming courts.

A wonderful attraction is the delightful sample of the Spanish colonial renaissance – the estate Casa del Herrero (or Steedman Estate). Going into the manor, you can enjoy the unique atmosphere of approaching history, facilitated by the interior, which represents the beginning of the 20th century; the time when the mansion was built. As for its construction, it happened at the insistence of George Fox Steedman, who hired the architect George Washington Smith for this purpose. It is noteworthy that the family moved to a new mansion on June 29th, 1925, when an earthquake occurred in Santa Barbara, which destroyed many buildings of the city. The estate was fortunately built in such a way that it did not suffer from it. Today the house belongs to the Foundation, which is managed by a descendant of the first owner.

Bay Santa Barbara Harbor also deserves a mention, as one of the most picturesque places of the city, especially if you visit it during the Christmas holidays – it is at the bay that the most colorful fireworks are organized. It offers breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, and the tranquility and serenity that is felt when walking along the pier will remain with tourists for a long time, recalling the happy moments spent in Santa Barbara. An unusual landmark is located at the intersection of Chapala Street and Montecito Street. We are talking about the area with the largest representation of the large-leaved ficus (Moreton Bay Fig Tree). The tree is always chosen by tourists and is one of the best places for photographs. It was planted in 1876 by a sailor who gave a sapling to a local girl as a sign of their love.

Fans of the famous series “Santa Barbara” may be surprised, but it was not filmed in the city, although one place did get into the frames. We are talking about the already mentioned main church of the city – Old Mission Santa Barbara. Travelers who want to see beautiful theatrical performances should follow the billboard of upcoming events at The Granada Theater, Arlington Theater, as well as Lobero Theater and Ensemble Theater Company – great performances are delivered in every one of these cultural institutions. Another interesting attraction of Santa Barbara is the Chaucer’s Bookstore, which amazes all tourists with its rich variety of books. Among the places to conduct a walk, is the picturesque Shoreline Park, located right off the Pacific coast.

Among the government buildings worthy of visiting is the spacious Riviera Mansion – it is here that marriages are concluded. To get acquainted with the history of the city, the El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park open-air museum, where the first Spanish fort was previously located, is the perfect place to visit. From the majestic structures built in 1782 to defend against the attacks of the Indians, only two survived and the chapel is one of them. During the Mexican-American war of 1846, almost the entire fortress was destroyed. It should be noted that the clashes between the Indians were not the only cause of the destruction. Earthquakes also contributed. Nearby is the house Casa de la Guerra, where until 1943 lived the fifth commandant of El Presidio de Santa Barbara, whose name is Jose de la Guerra y Noriega. The estate is attractive with its Spanish colonial style structure, just as its interior decoration is also impressive.

It is worth highlighting some more beautiful monuments of the sacred architecture of Santa Barbara. This is the Our Lady of Sorrows Church, which was rebuilt in 1929. The building, bearing a similar name, was previously part of the El Presidio fortification complex, and was erected together with it in 1782. However, due to the fact that the shrine was severely damaged during the 1925 earthquake, it was decided that it should be rebuilt in a new place. It was also erected in the same Spanish colonial style – the distinctive architectural style of the whole of Santa Barbara. For those who like to see beautiful churches, there is another place worth highlighting – the Trinity Episcopal Church. The Santa Barbara Cemetery also deserves to be mentioned as a great place for a boardwalk due to its spacious and peaceful atmosphere.

In addition to the aforementioned, there are several other beautiful museums in the North American city, thanks to which you can learn more about the city. There is, for example, the Reagan Ranch Center which is a museum where former US President Ronald Reagan lived. He was a rider and a rancher. Here you can find reliable facts about the life of the president, which is not available in history books. Art lovers will be interested in visiting the museums of the Italian Pottery Outlet and the Santa Barbara Art Glass, where interesting master classes are also held. The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation (often simply called MOXI), is another preferred cultural institution. Here you can learn in an interactive form about the laws of the surrounding world. For those wishing to explore the history of the city, it is also worth going to the Historical Museum, as well as the Carriage & Western Art Museum.