Santa Fe Hotels and City Guide

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As the oldest capital in the nation, Santa Fe boasts a rich history in both religion and art. This amazing city is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. There are streets filled with boutiques, galleries and great restaurants as well as unique architecture, brown adobe buildings and beautiful nature. The influences from the Europeans and Spanish are evident throughout the entire city. And no matter where you go, the beautiful peak of Santa Fe Baldy is always visible and there’s a wealth of outdoor activities to keep you active. It’s no wonder it’s quickly becoming a favorite for travelers from around the world.

Santa Fe has many beautiful buildings. The Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi first began construction in 1869. Archbishop Jean Lamy oversaw the construction and recruited artists from across Europe to decorate the church. The result is a stunning cathedral that features beautiful stained glass windows, glass chandeliers and two bell towers. In later years, murals of the cross were added. The church also houses a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, considered to be the oldest symbol of the Virgin in the nation. James Johnson was one of the first Americans to set up a homestead in Santa Fe. His home, the El Zaguan, now stands as one of New Mexico’s prize dwellings and at one point included a chocolate room. That would be so nice. An entire room dedicated to chocolate. It must have been close to the exercise room. Anyways, today the Historic Santa Fe Foundation uses it as an office. The staircase inside the Loretto Chapel is almost as famous as the building itself. The architecture is quite stunning and the French influence is noticeable with its white alter, rose windows and beautiful sanctuary. However, the chapel’s claim to fame lies in its staircase. The chapel was almost complete when the architect suddenly passed away. Without a staircase to the choir loft, the Sisters of Loretto prayed for a miracle. A carpenter arrived and built a stunning spiral staircase, without a single nail, and left before he could get paid. One of the oldest churches in the nation lies in Santa Fe. Built in 1610, the San Miguel Mission was first built by the Tlaxcalan Indians, who served the Spanish soldiers and missionaries. Although the mission was almost destroyed by fire in 1680, the walls continued to stand. Inside you’ll find 18th century works of art painted by Hispanic artists. It’s also home to the San Jose Bell, considered to be the oldest bell in America.

The art market in Santa Fe rivals that of New York and Los Angeles. Whether you stroll along Canyon Road or wander through the museums, you’ll be amazed at how much art actually exists here. In fact, there are over 300 galleries in the area, including the Museum of New Mexico and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. The Museum of New Mexico is an amalgamation of four fantastic museums located throughout the Santa Fe area. The first, facing the downtown plaza, is the Palace of the Governors. Built in 1619, it is the nation's oldest public building continually in use and was the original seat of New Mexico's territorial government. Today it tells of New Mexico’s history. Second is the Museum of Fine Arts. As New Mexico’s oldest art museum, it’s a stunning example of Pueblo Revival style, including its landscaped courtyard and cedar roof supports. It features more than 20,000 works of art and has a great selection of gallery talks and art classes.

Museum Hill contains four museums, including the final two museums that are part of the New Mexico Museum, which are the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. The Museum of International Folk Art showcases ethnic crafts from many cultures, but also focuses on New Mexico’s Hispanic culture. It has the largest collections of folk art throughout the world. Items on display include religious art, materials and toys. Another interesting area is the Neutrogena Wing, which showcases one man’s travels and the items he collected while on his journeys. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture will give you a great introduction to the Native American cultures in the area, including the Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache. It’s taught through poetry, dance, song and over 70,000 works of art. The exhibits change quite regularly so you’ll be able to see new items each time you visit Santa. One of its permanent exhibits, Here, Now and Always, traces the life of American Indians and was created in part by Native American elders, scholars and tribal members. The other two museums on Museum Hill include the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, which features items from the Spanish Colonial world, and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, New Mexico’s oldest private non-profit museum that focuses on Native American art.

Although Georgia O’Keeffe’s work is represented throughout the world, the largest collection is housed in the museum named after her. The museum was the first to dedicate an entire museum to a woman artist of international stature. Spending nearly 40 years of her life in the area, each of her works of art captured the essence of Santa Fe, whether it was of desert skulls or blooming flowers. Some of the items here were part of her private collection and had never been on public display before. The museum itself is a great brown adobe building, complete with 10 sky lit galleries.

There are great places located throughout the city that are perfect for enjoying a delicious meal. The diversity that exists here is quite evident in the wide selection of cuisine. To help narrow down your search for that perfect restaurant, be familiar with its plaza and the south side. The Plaza is located in the downtown area and is filled with activity whether you’re wandering through the galleries, window shopping or enjoying a great meal. The downtown includes the famous Canyon Road where the adobe buildings tend to blend into the canyon background. This road is also home to many fantastic galleries. The South side is better known for having a good selection at a reasonable price.

Whether you’ve spent the day exploring the museums, enjoying the nature or looking at the beautiful architecture, Santa Fe has the perfect way for you to relax and is well known for providing some of the best spa treatments around. Whether it’s a relaxing massage, nourishing facemask or the whole enchilada, you’ll find the perfect combo to make you feel whole. Again, it’s pretty easy to see why Santa Fe is quickly becoming everyone’s favorite place to go.