Arriving in Santa Barbara can feel like arriving in Madrid. With its adobe buildings and red roofs contrasting against the blue sea and the mountains in the distance, it feels far from the standard American city. Almost completely rebuilt in 1925 after an earthquake destroyed the town, it now exudes a unified style that celebrates the Native American, Spanish and Mexican heritage of the city.
From the fort and mission originally built by the first Spanish to claim this land, to the modern architecture that plays with the city's unique look, there's much to take in. The architects, designers and civil servants that created the distinctive Spanish Revival style took advantage of the Mediterranean climate and ambience to make a city fit to be called the American Riviera.