Santa Fe’s 3 Must-See Historic Churches!

I pretty much have a love/hate relationship with Santa Fe, NM. In one breath I’ll tell you about how I hate the people because they can’t mind their own business (and how they were gonna call the cops on me for leaving my dog in the car for five minutes with the air conditioner on), and in the next breath I’ll tell you all the things that are worth seeing if you go.

Like I said…Love/hate.

One of the things I do like about Santa Fe is that it has a lot of history and an awesome Downtown area.  The whole city is themed in the Pueblo/adobe-style architecture, so walking around the downtown shops, restaurants and museums is similar to walking around in another culture – especially if you are not from the area or state!

I haven’t always got to spend a lot of time thoroughly exploring the downtown area, but the last time I was in Santa Fe I was with a friend who knew some of the sights to see.  While there are a lot of cool things I could suggest for you, this post covers three historic churches that you can’t leave the area without visiting!

1. Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis de Assisi has been a work in progress for the last couple of hundred of years.  It originally was an adobe church built in 1610 – the same year Santa Fe was founded! It’s had quite the history, including its original building being destroyed by Pueblo Indians. (Click here to read more about the church’s history) It’s certainly one of the larger historic churches the area offers, and with its central location to shopping and dining there really is no reason not to see it!  The doors are regularly open for the public to come in and admire the beauty and art of this historic landmark.

2. Loretto Chapel and its “Miraculous Staircase”

Loretto Chapel is another church that you really shouldn’t miss if you are in the area! This church is also centrally located in the Downtown area and has quite a unique history of its own. The story with this church is that no one knows who built the above-pictured staircase, and architecturally speaking, it doesn’t make sense. The staircase has two 360 degree turns, and before the addition of the iron railings, did not have any visible means of support. If you visit the church, you will hear the recorded story of the Miraculous Staircase playing inside the Chapel. It’s definitely worth a stop!

3. San Miguel Mission

San Miguel Mission is considered the oldest church in the Continental United States, dating back all the way to the early 1600’s!! Obviously, the church has gone through phases of restoration throughout its 400-year history. When we visited, there was a volunteer sitting inside the chapel who was happy to tell us a little about the history and also about the different parts of the chapel that have been around for hundreds of years (like the above pictured carved wood & bell). The bell is said to date back to 1848!  This is a fun and historical stop if you are in Downtown Santa Fe! (For more about the history of San Miguel Mission, take a look at their website.)

So there it is folks, the top 3 historic churches that you should put on your Santa Fe travel list! There were other churches in the area, but with these three you can rest your head on your pillow at night with a clean conscious that you saw the best ones!

Don’t forget to leave me a comment!!

Until next time!