Riviera

The Riviera, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Santa Barbara, is an enchanting area that boasts views of the city, the Pacific Ocean as well as the Channel Islands. This neighborhood is full of winding streets, unique houses, gorgeous stonewalls and a semi-tropical appearance. The road, Alameda Padre Serra (known as APS to locals) is the separating point between the “upper” and “lower” rivieras. Spanish and Mediterranean architecture predominates the style of the area. Santa Barbarans who call the Riviera home enjoy the unique east-west coastline, the only one from Alaska to Cape Horn that provides occasion to view both sunrises and sunsets across the ocean everyday.  The neighborhood closer to downtown at the base of the Riviera hills is referred to as the Lower Riviera.