Architecture sights in San Francisco Bay Area
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Santana Row
A completely planned real-estate venture, Santana Row is a mixed-use space that brings together shopping, dining and entertainment along with townhouses, lofts and flats. There's a large boutique hotel and a multiplex cinema.
At its heart is a pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare that calls to mind 'Main St' ideals of traditional American small-town life, but the style of the architecture and overall effect is Mediterranean. The restaurants spill out onto sidewalk terraces, and public spaces have been designed to invite loitering and promenading. The idea is a popular one, and on warm evenings, the area is swarming with an energetic crowd. There are some excellent…
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B
Old St Hilary’s Church Museum
Commanding splendid views from its perch in Tiburon, Old St Hilary’s Church Museum is one of the country’s last examples of Carpenter Gothic architecture still in its original setting. The hillsides around the deconsecrated Catholic church comprise St Hilary’s Preserve, which nurtures a treasure trove of rare wildflowers, including the black jewel and Marin dwarf flax. Best in spring.
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Marin County Civic Center
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Marin County Civic Center is a long, beautiful structure blending into the hills directly east of Hwy 101; exit on N San Pedro Rd, 2 miles north of San Rafael. Tours begin here Wednesday at 10:30; reserve by calling 415-499-6646. The center hosts regular concerts and events, including the Marin County Fair each July and a farmers market every Thursday and Sunday morning.
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C
Memorial Church
The Main Quad, an open plaza where the original 12 campus buildings, a mix of Romanesque and Mission revival styles, were joined by the Memorial Church in 1903. The church is noted for its beautiful mosaic-tiled frontage, stained-glass windows and organ with 7777 pipes.
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D
Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph
At the top of Plaza de Cesar Chavez is the Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph, the pueblo's first church. Originally constructed of adobe brick in 1803, it was replaced three times due to earthquakes and fire; the present building dates from 1877.
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Mission San Rafael Arcángel
The town began with Mission San Rafael Arcángel, founded in 1817 which served as a sanitarium for Native Americans suffering from European diseases. The present building is a replica dating from 1949.
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E
Outdoor Art Club
Said to have been founded by 35 Mill Valley ladies determined to preserve the local environment, the private Outdoor Art Club is housed in a landmark 1904 building designed by Bernard Maybeck.
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