Santa Fe - The City Different
Founded in 1607, Santa Fe, which means Holy Faith in Spanish, is the United States' oldest state capital. Situated at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the southern Rocky Mountains, it is also it's highest. Known for its scenic beauty, cultural diversity, and an extraordinary concentration of arts, music and fine dining, Santa Fe is one of the world's most visited destinations. In 2005, Santa Fe became the first U.S. city to be chosen by UNESCO as a Creative City, one of only nine cities in the world to hold this designation.
Santa Fe was once the capital of Spain's, and then Mexico's, territories north of the Rio Grande, but its visible history extends far back into time beyond the arrival of the Spanish; it is thought to have been the site of Puebloan villages that had already been long abandoned by the time the Spanish arrived in 1607. It became the state capital when the territory of New Mexico achieved statehood in 1912.
In the early 20th century, the area attracted a number of artists, such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz. The region remains important on America's art scene. The arrival of Igor Stravinsky and the founding of the Santa Fe Opera, one of the world's leading opera companies, had a similarly invigorating and enduring influence on the musical community.
Much of the city's attractiveness, from both scenic and cultural perspectives, arises from its setting in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
While you are here, put on your walking shoes and enjoy Santa Fe's small but vibrant downtown that is not only walkable, but walked, often, by many people late into the nights, particularly in summertime. Like many towns initiated by the Spanish, Santa Fe has a central square that is a gathering place for all types. For hours of entertainment, pull up a bench and people watch; you'll rapidly gain an appreciation for how the "City Different" nickname applies. Especially nice in the summer evenings as the temperatures drop (although rain may drop as well) and the people come out.
Another great sight to see in Santa Fe is home to the oldest public building in the United States, the Palace of the Governors. This 17th-century building houses a historical museum and museum shop Be sure to visit some of the multitude of museums in Santa Fe on your visit. While here, you can, you can see and photograph some of our beautiful architecture in town, such as St. Francis Cathedral(insert link here ) and the State Capitol Building, "The Roundhouse", one of our country's most unusual and striking state capitol buildings. Throughout the year, there's ample opportunity to attend one of our multitude of community fairs, festivals and celebrations as well. Many of the Native American pueblo communities nearby schedule dances and other ceremonies to celebrate specific feast days throughout the year, some open to the public. Santa Fe is probably the best place in the world to shop for specifically American Indian arts and crafts. We encourage you to walk on the "Portal" and see some of the finest!
Santa Fe has so much to offer, it's nearly impossible to enjoy all that we have to offer in one visit. There is so much to experience in Santa Fe that it would take a book to explain it all We encourage you to come back again and again and discover our city for yourself!
Sources:
Wikipedia
Santa Fe
New Mexico Convention and Visitors Bureau
