Architecture in Santa Fe (New Mexico)
There are several photogenic churches in town, most of them open for visits during daylight hours when no church services are in progress (please be respectful and don't attempt flash photography):
- St. Francis Cathedral, 213 Cathedral Place (downtown area), ☎ +1 505 982-5619, . One of the "must-see" places in town, with an impressive interior and beautiful art both inside and out. A tip for the photographer: the main facade faces west, so photographing the exterior (including several striking sculptures such as the one at the top of this page) tends to be most rewarding, atypically for Santa Fe, in the middle of the day, particularly the afternoon. Free; donation. �
- Loretto Chapel, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, ☎ +1 505 982-0092, . Su 10:30AM-5PM, M-Sa 9AM-5PM (). Built in 1878 and modeled after the Gothic Sainte Chapelle in Paris. An intriguing legend - The Miraculous Staircase - is attached below and serves as the highlight on the church. The Loretto is also a popular romantic wedding venue. $3. �
- San Miguel Mission, 401 Old Santa Fe Trail, ☎ +1 505 983-3974. Su 1PM-4:30PM, Summer M-Sa 9AM-4:30PM, Winter M-Sa 10AM-4PM. Thought to be the oldest surviving mission church in the United States, the San Miguel is a rather simple but lovely adobe structure. Behind the mission, along the narrow alleyway, is a small structure whose owners claim it to be the "Oldest House in the U.S." built by Europeans; a claim which though inaccurate reflects the long history of the site. Admission by donation. �
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The Miraculous Staircase
Santa Fe's origins as a venture of early Spanish colonists have made it the home of a number of legends, myths and stories mixing indigenous and Catholic themes, one of the most famous being the legend of the Miraculous Staircase. The choir loft at Loretto Chapel is reached by a winding staircase with two complete revolutions, and no obvious means of support; it looks like it floats in the air. Legend says that a mysterious carpenter built this staircase single-handed in the 1870s, then vanished without a trace before he could be paid or even identified. Some say that this carpenter was none other than St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters, come to earth. When you visit Loretto Chapel, take a good look at the staircase and decide for yourself whether it requires divine intervention to stay intact.
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- Santuario de Guadalupe, 100 Guadalupe (downtown area), ☎ +1 505 988-2027. M-F 9AM-4PM, Sa/Summer 10AM-4PM. A favorite musical venue, the Santuario is an excellent example of Spanish Colonial architecture and contains a superb collection of religious artworks. Free. �
- Scottish Rite Temple, 463 Paseo de Peralta (north of downtown but within walking distance of the Plaza), ☎ +1 505 982-4414, . A startling, bright pink Moorish-style building modeled after the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. �
The State Capitol Building, corner of Old Santa Fe Trail and Paseo de Peralta (south of downtown), ☎ +1 505 986-4589, . Self-guided tours M-F 7AM-6PM, call for guided tours. One of the country's most unusual and striking state capitol buildings; usually open to visitors during working hours. It's known locally as "the Roundhouse," and even a casual look will tell you why. Free. �
An enormous number of Santa Fe structures are on the National Register of Historic Places . Rather than recapping the whole list here, visit the web site. A good way of sampling the Historic Places is to start at the Plaza (itself one of the designated places) and work your way out. At least 40 places on the Register can be reached conveniently from here.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Santa Fe (New Mexico)
