Information for Travelers
Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico and sits on a tributary of the Rio Grande, on the southwestern slopes of the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, it has at its center the traditional square.
This fun and fascinating city gains its particular atmosphere with its blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American cultural influences.
Its picturesque streets and alleys, low adobe houses, beautiful Spanish colonial churches, as well as the profusion of Native American arts and crafts and contemporary art, have long been a tourist attraction for tourists.
In the forested mountainous region around the city, visitors can discover a number of fascinating Native American pueblos that are still occupied.
Over the past 20 years, excellent winter sports facilities have been developed in the Sangre de Cristo mountains near Santa Fe, adding to the list of activities in the region.
Ski Santa Fe is just 15 miles from the city, and tourists without a car can take a bus directly from the city centre.
This popular ski area has over 650 acres and over 80 trails, with a lot of terrain variety.
Culture
Santa Fe is known for its Pueblo-style architecture and as a center for the creative arts.
The New Mexico Museum Complex is home to four museums that explore the state's heritage.
The Museum of New Mexico History chronicles the state's history from the 16th century through exhibits that look at native populations, colonization, and the ways in which the Santa Fe trail shaped the state's economy and development.
The winding streets of the surrounding historic district wind through adobe landmarks, including the Governors Palace, now home to the Museum of New Mexico History.
Founded in 1953, the Museum of International Folk Art has the largest collection of international folk art in the world, including baskets, fabrics, woodcarving and ceramics.
The collections are divided by geographic region: Africa, Asia and Middle East, Hispanic and Contemporary Latin, European and North America and Latin America.
There are also sections covering Spanish colonial and textiles and clothing.
The Cathedral Basilica of San Francisco de Assis is a fine example of neo-Romanesque architecture, characterized by its Corinthian columns, rounded arches and square towers.
Built between 1869 and 1886, it took the place of a much older adobe chapel.
The last remaining piece of the original church houses a statue of the Virgin Mary known as Our Lady La Conquistadora.
The statue was first brought to the site in 1626 from Spain and is the oldest of its kind in the United States.
Read about Santa Fe in Wikipedia