About Santa Fe

• About Santa Fe
• Santa Fe Videos
• Santa Fe Entertainment
• Santa Fe Home Appeal
• Santa Fe Lifestyle
• Santa Fe Real Estate

Santa Fe, founded in 1610 by then-governor Pedro de Peralta, serves as the Capitol of the State of New Mexico (which became a part of the U.S. in 1848). In Spanish, Santa Fe means “holy faith.” The long version of the city name is “La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis” which means “The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi.”

Quite unlike any other city in the United States, Santa Fe's deep, rich cultural history gives it its distinctive flavor. Home to many historic structures and century-old traditions, Santa Fe is a blend of both history and modern innovation. From the San Miguel Chapel (pictured), originally built around 1610 and known as the oldest church in the United States, to the dynamic SITE Santa Fe, a contemporary museum exhibiting modern cutting edge art, Santa Fe offers a broad spectrum of architectural styles, cultural events and historical influences.

Santa Fe residents enjoy warm summer days, cool summer nights, low humidity, and an average of 300 days a year of sunshine. The appeal of Santa Fe, however, goes beyond its desirable weather and incredibly colorful sunsets. The appeal is in the history, culture, diversity, arts, and style. It's an incredibly unique place to visit and to live earning the nickname, “The City Different.”

In 2005, Santa Fe became the first city designated by UNESCO as a “creative city.” This was quite the designation considering that more than 250 cities worldwide now appear on that list. Santa Fe has consistently been recognized for its rich culture, dedication to the arts, and creative artists. More than 10% of people with jobs in Santa Fe are employed in art-related services and industries.

For years Santa Fe has invested in small business development aimed at creative industries and has seen a strong growth rate as a result.

​​​​​​​In addition to the amazing galleries, artistic creations, and productions a great way to experience the creativity of Santa Fe is through the immersive Meow Wolf. Meow Wolf’s House of the Eternal Return is described as “a mind-bending, interactive, explorable art experience for people of all ages in Santa Fe, New Mexico.”

Santa Fe has a strong diversity of people, artists, native tribes, festivals, galleries, museums, food, and experiences.

The Santa Fe music and opera scene is second to none in the United States. Except for 2020 (Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic), the Santa Fe Opera has presented top operas, including many world premieres, every summer since July 1957. And the venue is incredible.

As the Santa Fe Opera describes it:

Vistas beckon from every side. There are the rugged mountains to the east, the far reaches opening up to the north, the rolling hills to the south, the limitless sunset horizon to the west.

The house itself is a point of visual and architectural wonder, an aria given shape under the overarching sky. Every part directs our attention toward the stage, where the disciplines of music and stagecraft at the highest level combine to challenge the notion of what is possible on the opera stage.

This New York Times video does a great job of showing why people are drawn to Santa Fe: 36 Hours in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Click to watch now.