Nicknamed "The Urban center Unlike," Santa Fe has e'er been known for marching to the shell of its own pulsate. Its story stretches back to the 1600s, giving this Southwestern hub multiple centuries to grow into its imaginative, artistic self.

Today, the city shows off its wide array of celebrated sites, hundreds of fine art galleries, and perhaps the nearly colorful culinary scene in the state. To celebrate the New Mexican capital, here are some of the virtually surprising facts near Santa Fe — and how y'all can all-time experience them for yourself.

1. Santa Fe is the oldest capital letter city in the continental Usa…

Established way dorsum in 1607, Santa Iron first became a majuscule three years later, making it both the oldest capital city in the mainland U.s.a. and the oldest European settlement west of the Mississippi. It also served equally the capital of the Spanish "Kingdom of New Mexico," the Mexican province of Nuevo Mejico, and as the chief city for the Spanish Empire north of the Rio Grande.

Of course, people had been living on and near the site of the city long before its Western founding — namely, communities of Pueblo Native Americans. Records prove villages in the area dating back to the 11th century.

Experience it : Remarkably, buildings from the showtime of the Spanish era still stand up. The Palace of the Governors has stood since the early 1600s — today, this celebrated adobe structure serves as New Mexico's history museum, detailing the intervening 400-some years of life in the state. In that location's a wonderful (daily!) Native American market here, where you can buy jewelry and tokens straight from the artists.

The San Miguel Chapel, aka the oldest church in the state or just "the oldest church," also dates back to the early 1600s. Yes, information technology's still continuing — and putting on services twice a solar day (once in Latin).

ii. …but the metropolis'south native roots run even deeper.

12 surprising facts about Santa Fe, NM

Photograph: Tourism Santa Fe

Equally in the 1600s, so today: A significant part of Santa Iron'due south civilisation is connected to the 23 Native American Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos who reside in New Mexico. Each tribe comprises its own sovereign nation, then the rules, language, and culture change depending on who yous're visiting. Eight of the state's 19 Native American Pueblos are located north of Santa Iron. Today, you can visit many of them — and you should.

Experience information technology : Numerous Indigenous celebrations are held throughout the year, with iii notables in Jan alone: King's Twenty-four hour period Celebration, St. Ildefonso Banquet Day, and St. Paul's Feast Day. March is the quiet month for most Pueblos — be respectful, and don't program a visit then. Public events ramp support in July and August with the anniversary of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt and Santa Clara Feast Twenty-four hour period.

iii. The landscape is more than ski-basin than desert.

Reverse to popular belief, Santa Fe isn't really high desert — technically, information technology'due south semi-arid steppe (with cold winters!). Fifty-fifty though the city gets 300 days of sunshine, locals get to experience all four seasons. This means you could easily plan multiple trips here throughout the yr and visit at the perfect time to cycle, hike, military camp, climb, golf, and ski, all in turn.

Experience it : Santa Fe and its surroundings are stunning to explore on two wheels or your ain two feet. This is especially truthful in fall, when the aspens change color and y'all can walk through the falling leaves. Effort the Aspen Vista Trail off Hyde Park Route to come across information technology for yourself.

In wintertime, Santa Atomic number 26 trades hiking and biking gear for skis and boards. Ski Santa Fe — with a base acme of 10,350ft — is but 16 miles from the urban center centre and sees an average annual snow of 225 inches. Cantankerous-country skiers and snowshoers can glide through the trees here, too.

4. Santa Atomic number 26 was the country's first UNESCO-designated Creative City…

In 2005, Santa Fe made US history by becoming a UNESCO Artistic City. One in 10 jobs in Santa Fe are connected to the arts, and the city has a vast creative scene spanning several districts and neighborhoods, each bolstered by locals and tourists akin. It would accept months to explore information technology all…but that shouldn't keep you lot from trying.

Feel it : Meow Wolf is to art what Hamilton is to theatre. The first permanent installation appeared in 2016, supported by Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin (who happens to live in Santa Fe). Meow Wolf's Business firm of Eternal Render takes guests through a mystery business firm full of secret passageways and surrealist creations. Another recommended creative experience is SITE Santa Atomic number 26, a modern art museum with exhibits that are constantly in flux.

five. …and it's one of the largest fine art markets in the US.

12 surprising facts about Santa Fe, NM

Photo: Tourism Santa Fe

Santa Fe didn't go an art powerhouse overnight — like most facts nearly the metropolis, this i has a long backstory. Artists start began to migrate to Santa Fe in the tardily 1800s, mesmerized by the landscape, the culture, and the adobe architecture. This trend never really stopped, and the city embraced it with the establishment of the New Mexico Museum of Art in 1917.

Today, The Metropolis Different is home to a whopping 250+ galleries, 100 or so of which are located on the winding Canyon Route. During the summer, Santa Fe also holds a number of art festivals and markets (merely more on that later).

Feel it : If you'd like to meet local artists, visit Santa Fe on a Friday night, when many galleries — specially in the summertime — agree public openings. Since the Coulee Road galleries are correct next door to each other, this is the platonic place to brainstorm exploring the metropolis'south art scene. Meanwhile, if you're looking for more gimmicky art, caput to the Railyard District.

6. In Santa Fe, food is an art course all its own…

Whether you're hitting up a local-favorite diner for traditional New Mexican cuisine or looking for one of the metropolis's many imaginative twists on the original, New Mexican food is difficult to beat. The keystone ingredient is chile — green is unremarkably spicier than ruddy, but if you're non sure which one to order, y'all can always say "Christmas!" and try both. (Tip: Attempt both.)

Experience information technology : Eat everything you can in Santa Atomic number 26. Try a breakfast burrito smothered with dark-green republic of chile at Tia Sophia'southward, then head over to Tortilla Flats — adjacent to Meow Wolf — for their red republic of chile pork ribs. If you aren't busting at the seams with New Mexican food by this indicate, become for the sopapillas at La Choza.

If you hit your republic of chile quota (apparently some people have one), try Jambo for some great jerk chicken or Cowgirl BBQ for their ribs sans chile (they also have karaoke!). To get the best deals at tons of different restaurants around town, consider planning a trip during Santa Fe Restaurant Calendar week (late Feb), when restaurants offer special prix fixe menus.

7. …while The Santa Atomic number 26 Opera is nada short of world-famous.

12 surprising facts about Santa Fe, NM

Photograph: Tourism Santa Fe

This is possibly the best opera company in the country (just inquire RBG). The opera house itself is equally impressive, an open-air adobe structure framing views of the mountains to the east and those intense New Mexico sunsets to the west. Since information technology first opened in 1957, The Santa Fe Opera has put on 170 different productions (totaling more 2,000 performances), 16 of which have been world premieres.

Experience it : Shows happen virtually regularly in the summer. The 2020 season will host some classics — including The Barber of Seville and The Magic Flute — besides as the world premiere of Thousand. Butterfly. Don't miss the tradition of tailgating in the parking lot beforehand, either. Come up early, bring chairs, bring decorations, or simply gild a tailgate box and people-sentinel.

viii. Summer in Santa Fe = art market season.

In addition to the hundreds of art galleries around town, Santa Fe also hosts various art markets. They're mostly held in the summer and feature a blend of Anglo, Native American, Spanish, and international fine art. Call back of your local farmers market place, and and then imagine it 10x bigger and creative-ified.

Experience information technology : Kickoff with the International Folk Art Market place, which takes identify in July and showcases folk fine art from 52 different countries. That same month yous'll have the hazard to hit up the Contemporary Hispanic Market and the Traditional Spanish Marketplace, which celebrate Hispanic civilisation (including trip the light fantastic, music, and food), and the second annual Santa Fe Art Calendar week, where 100+ events are planned across the city's museums, attractions, and 250+ galleries.

If you tin can, definitely stick around for the Santa Fe Indian Market held in mid-August — it's the largest art market dedicated to Native American art in the world.

9. So many famous writers and artists have lived here (and withal do).

12 surprising facts about Santa Fe, NM

Photo: Tourism Santa Fe

Because just how many people work in the artistic sector in Santa Fe, information technology's no surprise that some of them are well-known faces. Perhaps the well-nigh famous of the local artist contingent was Georgia O'Keeffe, a 20th-century painter known for her vibrant depictions of flowers. Equally mentioned above, Game of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin currently resides in Santa Fe, and other notable past residents have included D.H. Lawrence and Willa Cather.

Experience it : It would only be fitting to see O'Keeffe's work in the identify that inspired it. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, located downtown, features non only her paintings but exhibits on her creative procedure every bit well. If you have a car and some actress time, you can besides venture north to Ghost Ranch, ane of O'Keeffe'south first homes.

Those more than interested in Santa Iron's writers should programme to be in boondocks in October 2020 for the very first Santa Fe Literature Week, an entire week dedicated to the metropolis'due south literary past, present, and futurity.

10. This is 1 of the almost romantic cities in the country.

11 surprising facts about Santa Fe, NM

Photograph: Tourism Santa Atomic number 26

Santa Fe regularly rakes in the accolades, and romance is always one of its medals. Artists' cities tend to take an emotional ambiance to them, and in that location's something magical near the meeting of ancient cultures with ruddy-and-green vineyards, hills rolling into mountains, and the golds and tans of adobe-manner compages melting into the warm hues of a Santa Fe dusk.

If you're here to feel the love, take hold of an "herbal aphrodisiac" at Kakawa Chocolate House, tour the Estrella del Norte vineyards, dine next to a piñon fire at Rio Chama Steakhouse, and grab a couple'south massage at the Japanese-style Ten Thousand Waves, a world-class spa with individual outdoor baths fix in a forest of juniper and pine.

11. The best trail in town might just exist the Margarita Trail.

12 surprising facts about Santa Fe, NM

Photo: Tourism Santa Iron

The Santa Fe Margarita Trail includes 45 different margaritas, each of which has been crafted specifically for the trail by a local institution. Some particularly special concoctions to wait out for include the Amaya Jalapeno Margarita (Amaya at Hotel Santa Atomic number 26), the Santa Cafe Chipotle Margarita (Santacafé), the MadChile Margarita (Mine Shaft Tavern), and the Juliarita Margarita (named after Julia Staab, the resident ghost at La Posada de Santa Fe).

Experience it : Venture out on the trail! Earlier y'all starting time, pick up a newspaper Passport or download the Margarita Trail app for a map of where to detect all 45 different margaritas. Conquer the trail and you'll earn some very existent rewards — besides the reward of experiencing The Urban center Dissimilar.