FRONTAL VIEW OF CONVENTO BUILDING

Father de Lasuen first established the San Fernando Mission in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley, in part, because of the excellent natural resources.

This area, known by the local Indians as "Achois Comihabit," had tall trees. Because of this, the Spaniards were able to build the "Convento" or "Long Building." This structure, with its 2l distinctive Roman-style arches facing the main highway (El Camino Real), is the largest single structure of any of the 2l Missions.

Measuring 243 feet long by 60- feet wide, with 4 feet thick adobe (dried mud brick) walls, the Convento contained the rooms used by visitors. Originally, the priests (padres) had the outside walls around the main portal painted ornately to look like stone and brick trimmings. This was vestige of the Moorish or Muslem influence still strong in Spain, even 300 years after the reconquest (reconquista) of the Iberian Peninsula.