Founded in 1697, this was the first Spanish mission in California (both Alta and Baja). At that time Loreto was the religious center of California, so new missions were built out from here on a network of roads known as El Camino Real. Loreto’s primacy was clearly stated over the church portal, “Cabeza y Madre de las Misiones de Baja y Alta California” (“Head and mother of the Missions of Lower and Upper California”).