The main city of the state of New Mexico, named after Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe is located about 90 km north of Albuquerque . He is very old (by the standards of the USA) and very handsome (by any measure) . There are many museums, art galleries and centers of traditional Indian culture and art . In addition, Santa Fe is a monstrous number of various holidays . In short, this is a real paradise for the tourist . In addition, and in a criminal sense, the city is quite safe . And those who do not like historical monuments and are not interested in a architecture serve, attracts located very close to a nuclear laboratory - the first in the country and the world .

How to get to Santa Fe

To Santa Fe municipal airport fly flights from Los Angeles and Dallas, but it's easier to get here via Albuquerque airport by taxi, a rented car or shuttle bus. There is also a train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe.

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A bit of history

In the 9th century there were Indian villages in this place, for a long time nobody was interested in . But at the end of the 16th century the local places began to colonize . In 1610 g . the city of Santa Fe was founded at the foot of the mountains, and in the same year it was made the capital of the province . Thus, Santa Fe - the oldest capital city in the US . In addition, it is also the second oldest city in North America, which was founded by the colonialists from Europe . True, in the late 17th century the city was largely emptied because of Indian invasions . @ One way or another, after the war with Mexico for independence, the city began to grow: Texas declared it to be its territory . However, even then the city was not particularly interesting to Americans: it was considered a boring and hopeless province . Nevertheless, today Santa Fe in America has become a very promising tourist destination: it is an old city with a rich history, charming architecture and rich modern cultural life .

In addition to the status of the "oldest capital" and "the oldest city of colonists," Santa Fe can boast of the "highest capital" status. It stands at a height of 2,100 meters above sea level - higher than the central cities of any other states.

Entertainment, excursions and attractions Santa Fe

The very center of Santa Fe is not so great, but very lively . Quite a lot of buildings in it are entered in the national register of historical places . It is better to start their inspection from Plaza, the central city square, which in itself is already one of such places . At least four dozen such objects can be viewed in the area main square . Also in the Old Town there is a The most important of these is the Cathedral of St. Francis . Its impressive exterior is complemented by a beautiful interior .

Capitol Santa Fe can be called one of the most strange capitol buildings in the country. The Capitol carries the colloquial name of the "Round House" - for obvious reasons. It is open to tourists during working hours completely free of charge, and the building is also guided by guided tours on request.

Mission San Miguel is considered the oldest surviving mission in the United States. The structure is simple, but cute. Behind the mission is a narrow alley, passing along it, you can get to a small building, which its owners call the oldest house in the country. The house was built by the Europeans

Santuario de Guadalupe - an excellent modern concert venue and at the same time an excellent example of Spanish colonial architecture. So far, you can see an excellent collection of religious art items inside. And the Scottish Wright temple, which is to the north of the city center, is an interesting bright pink building in the Moorish style, built explicitly in the image and likeness of the Spanish Alhambra.

The most beautiful street of the city is Canyon Road. In fact, it's a market and a fair in the open air: literally in any building a small store is open. Here you can buy anything: souvenirs, clothes, household utensils, art objects. Each yard on the street in its own way is decorated, original and attractive. To get here from the center is far away, but it's worth it.

In the Loretto Chapel a small museum is opened today. In addition, local people like to spend weddings here. This is a beautiful neo-Gothic building, albeit a small one, built according to the design of a Parisian architect and explicitly reminiscent of the Parisian Saint-Chapelle. The main feature of the chapel is a specific spiral staircase made of wood, which is also called "magic".

After the death of the architect until the end of construction, it suddenly turned out that the project overlooked the staircase that could be climbed to the choirs . The chapel was too small to cram into it some standard version . After nine-day prayers, according to legend, an unknown person came to the chapel and promised to solve the problem in exchange for complete confidentiality. . Three months in 1877 . a mysterious stranger worked in the chapel, and the result was an incredible ladder of 33 steps with two full turns, made of no one knows about the tree . The "miraculous" staircase lies in the fact that it does not lean on either the outer walls or the inner column - that is, it keeps on itself like it's on its own . Therefore, today the stairs can not be walked: it is recognized too dangerous .

There are a lot of museums in Santa Fe . The New Mexico Historical Museum is open at the Governor's Palace, the oldest public building in the country built in the 17th century . It used to be once was used as the main government institution . The museum is located at the back of the palace and occupies three floors . Among its exhibits are prehistoric finds, as well as paintings of local artists . Another interesting museum is the art museum of the state . It is located among other things, the auditorium St. . Franciscus , the main concert venue of the city for classical and folk groups .

The Museum of International Folk Art is on the Museum Hill . The feature of this museum is a large exhibition of toys, scenes from folk life, fabrics, model villages and items of traditional art from all over of the world . In addition, there you can see the excellent collection of Spanish art . Here also in July the International Folk Art Festival is held . Also interesting is the Museum of Indian Culture and Art in the vicinity, whose conspiracy is a collection of clay products . Also with folk Indian art acquaints the museum "Wheelright": here you can and buy something as a souvenir . Finally, in the Museum of the Institute of American Indian art that opposite the cathedral, contemporary art is represented local Indians . And in a small museum of Spanish colonial art, which is also nearby, you can see a lot of works of art and archaeological finds of their old Spanish settlements .

Neighborhoods of Santa- Fe

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is located in the same city of New Mexico . It's about 50 km from Santa Fe, and on public th transport can be reached in an hour with a small . This is one of the two laboratories where nuclear weapons were developed in the United States . The first director was a great physicist . Oppenheimer . Today the laboratory has installed the most a powerful computer in the world (although this status is constantly threatened by the development of high technologies) . There was also developed the world's first nuclear bomb, blown up in 1945 . Of course, no one lets in the premises of the laboratory of the tourists . But, who are interested in so-called nuclear tourism, will be It is of interest to visit the Historical Museum in Los Alamos or the Bradbury Science Museum there to learn more about the Manhattan Project .

Events Santa Fe

The list of festivals that take place in Santa Fe is so huge that travelers can be sure: whenever they come here, they will have a chance to get on a merry party. Here are just some of the largest of the local holidays: the city fiesta in mid-September, dedicated to the liberation of the Spaniards in the 17th century, the rodeo in June and July, the July festival of wine at the Golondrinas ranch, the folk art market also in July, the fiesta of wine and chili in September, the film festival in December and Christmas festivities, of course.