Sites In and Around Santa Fe

One of the many benefits of buying a house in Santa Fe is the ability to enjoy not just the Southwest lifestyle but also all the different historical and cultural exhibits around the city. With a rich history founded in Native American tradition and altered by the use of the Santa Fe trail, Santa Fe’s history is vibrant and still thriving to this day. When you are on a property search for a new home in the Santa Fe area, you’ll want to consider these cultural and historical centers as well as the many different places you can visit any time you want after you close on your new home. Check out some of the gems listed below!

Palace of the Governors

Along with being a fascinating location and piece of architecture, The Palace of the Governors is also a central meeting place in Santa Fe. The courtyard is always full of local artisans and vendors, and provides a neat slice of life for individuals living in the area. The Palace of the Governors itself was originally built by Spaniards in the early 1600s to act as the seat of government for the area. This way the Spanish had a central location in which to govern much of the Southwest region from. The structure is made from adobe, as one would expect, and is now utilized as the state’s history museum. Along with being the state history museum, the building itself was registered as a National Landmark in 1960 so it’s not going anywhere. Take the time to enjoy a bit of history and culture when you spend a Saturday afternoon strolling the area.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

Georgia O’Keeffe, a well-renowned modernist painter, was a jewel in the Southwest region. Her paintings often depicted florals, Southwestern still-lifes, and landscapes in a very clean, modernist style. Her museum, located in Santa Fe, is one of the largest collections of her work in the world. This collection includes all types of her work from many different points in her life and includes a history of her life and other important memorabilia, including photographs of her by Alfred Stieglitz among others. While you could get through this museum in a day if you rushed through Santa Fe, this is a place that you will want to come back to again and again once you’ve bought a home in the area.  

Loretto Chapel

While you may not be a fan of checking out churches, or maybe you are, the Loretto Chapel is an architectural marvel of the world that still has yet to be explained. Completed in 1878, the small chapel was built without a staircase up to the choir loft in the back. Who builds a loft without a way up, we’re not sure, however, many engineers and architects were brought into remedy this. The only solution was to put in a ladder with the small space of the chapel. However, an architect constructed a beautiful and elegant spiral staircase to reach the loft that does not have a center column. To this day, no one is sure who the designer is or how this staircase stands and can hold the weight of people. There are so many interesting mysteries with this staircase that it’s worth more than one visit.

Santa Fe Opera

A night at the opera may be something you love, or it may be something you’ve never tried before. It doesn’t matter if you’re an enthusiast or a pleeb to opera, you’ve never experienced anything quite like a night at the Santa Fe Opera before. This unique opera house is located in the Southwestern desert outside of Santa Fe. While the seating is covered, much of the opera house is open to the air, allowing you to watch the sunset as you enjoy their rendition of “Die Fledermaus” or “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.” You will never experience something quite like it anywhere else.

San Miguel Mission

Located just south of the Loretto Chapel, the San Miguel Mission is arguably the oldest church located in the continental United States. While the actually date this mission was original built is hard to nail down, most can agree that it was around 1610 with the first documentation of the church in 1628. This particular adobe church has gone through many, many rebuilds and renovations as it has been damaged in revolts and by storms. This particular church has a fascinating history that dates back over 400 years and is worth the time to visit often to learn more about early Southwest culture.

Whether you already live in Santa Fe and are simply looking for a new home, or you’re moving to the area and are looking for your first home in the area, you’re in for a treat. With so many places to visit and enjoy in the Southwest, it’s worth considering these sites during your property search. Let Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices be your go-to real estate agents when you’re looking for a home in the Santa Fe area. Contact our office today!