Mission San Gabriel "The Moorish Mission"

The unique architecture of Mission San Gabriel. When originally built there was a bell tower on the right side of the front of this mission. The tower collapsed in an earthquake in 1812.

This mission, built of stone, not adobe, bears a marked resemblance to the Cathedral in Cordoba Spain. That Cathedral itself had originally been a mosque. It was re-dedicated as a Catholic Church after the re-conquest  in 1492. The priest responsible for the design of San Gabriel had received his early training in Cordoba.
 The high buttressed walls are unique among all of the California Missions.