A stroll through the town of Loreto will transport visitors back to the colonial period. The solid colors, striking contrasts, gabled roofs, and dramatic accents that characterize each detail make this first town to be colonized by the Jesuits a city of culture and legend in Baja California Sur.

A splendid example of architecture in Loreto is the Mission of Our Lady of Loreto, which was the first Jesuit foundation to be established in the Peninsula. A stone facade receives visitors and then, enveloped in the Baroque style, they are welcomed by an altarpiece done in the Churrigueresque style.

Another example of the Baroque period is the Mission of San Francisco Javier, a vestige of New Spain; one step inside will clothe you with a sense of peace and tranquility. The Mission’s elegant and imposing presence rises from among the rough elevations and steep ravines of the Sierra Giganta, and is considered to be the second central mission on the peninsula. It was also built by the Jesuits and is considered the jewel of the Baja California missions because of its unique construction style.