The Old California
At the beginning of the 16th century, California was still a fictional land, born from the imagination of a passionate writer. That was about to change. When the first Spanish explorers crossed what we now call the Sea of Cortez, they discovered a land they believed to be an island. Unfamiliar with this new frontier, some speculated they had just reached the legendary California.
AND HERE WE GO
California Today:
When people abroad think of California, they often picture the palm trees of Santa Monica, the stars of Hollywood Boulevard, or the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco Bay. What most don’t realize, however, is that the southern part of California, in Mexico, is equally impressive. It’s a land of breathtaking contrasts, where wilderness thrives: from the pine forests in the highlands to the green deserts dotted with massive granite rocks and towering cacti, from centuries-old Spanish missions and tranquil oases to the turquoise waters of the Sea of Cortez and the gentle whales of the Pacific. The California peninsula remains largely unknown to much of the world, a place where natural wonders abound. Together, both Alta and Baja California offer a seamless continuity of marvels—from the towering redwoods of the north to the vibrant marine life of the south.
Explore the episodes
The California Blog
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Vlkolínec, Slovakia
Located in the Carpathians of Central Slovakia.
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Mesa del Carmen, Gran Mural in the northern state
The California Peninsula is divided in two states, the one in the north and the one in the south. Rock art has been mostly associated with the southern state, mainly because it host most of the sites with monumental rock paintings widely known as Gran Mural. But the northern state has some sites with Gran…
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Santa Gertrudis, La Magna
The oldest mission of the state of Baja California.