Don’t Miss These 3 Old Churches in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Even though you are not religious, visiting these three old churches in Santa Fe is a must; San Miguel Mission, Loretto Chapel, and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
They are full of history, beautiful, and strategically located around the Santa Fe Plaza. It is the area that every tourist who travels to Santa Fe will visit.
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You can easily reach these old churches in Santa Fe by foot. It is only around a 3-minute walk from one church to the other church.
A visit to these old churches won’t take a long time. But the Santa Fe Plaza area is surrounded by historical buildings, museums, arts, restaurants, and stores. You will easily spend a day here.
If you want to combine your visit to these historic churches with other national historic landmarks and go deep into Santa Fe’s history, check out these Santa Fe walking tours:
– Santa Fe History Guided Walking Tour
Learn about the city’s one-of-a-kind history and culture from a local. –> Check availability here.
– Self-Guided GPS Walking Tour
Learn fascinating aspects of Santa Fe’s history, lore, and culture from your smartphone audio app. –> Book here.
– The Best of Santa Fe Walking Tour
It is a perfect tour for first-timers who want a thorough overview of the city. –>
Check availability here.
Best 3 Old Churches in Santa Fe
1. San Miguel Mission Church Santa Fe NM
It’s not only the oldest church in Santa Fe; San Miguel Mission is also the oldest church in New Mexico and possibly the oldest church in America.
San Miguel Mission was built about the same time Santa Fe was founded, circa 1610.
Part of the chapel was damaged during Pueblo Revolt in 1680. They completed the second rebuilding in 1710.
After that, San Miguel Chapel had several repairs and constructions until the last restoration and preservation work in 2020.
San Miguel Mission still sits upon its original foundation over a Pueblo Indian dwelling. It is one of the best examples of preserved adobe architecture in Santa Fe.
When visiting this oldest church in Santa Fe, you will see the original dirt floor and sanctuary steps through the plexiglass floor windows beyond the communion rail.
Visiting San Miguel Mission (the oldest church in North America)
From the outside, San Miguel Mission, with its adobe structure, looks humble compared to Loretto Chapel and St. Francis of Assisi.
You will enter through a wooden door that usually only opens half-side.
The interior is like any other Catholic Church but in a modest way. There’s a choir loft at the back, the stations of the cross carving on the side walls, and an altar at the front.
The wooden beam ceiling will catch your attention right away. It looks sturdy! Then, turn around and look up at the old wooden beam supporting the choir loft. This beam is from the 1710 reconstruction, and it gives the names of the Governor and his ensign. It is inscribed in Spanish.
To the right is the mysterious San Jose Bell. There is a controversy whether the bell was cast in 1356 or 1856.
Walk to the altar while looking at the stations of the cross carving on the right and left walls.
The artwork on the altar screen consists of paintings and sculptures of Christ the Nazarene, Archangel Michael, and holy people.
As mentioned above, you can see the original dirt floor and sanctuary steps through the plexiglass floor windows beyond the communion rail.
Please respect other visitors until you retreat from the chapel.
You can pray, explore, and rest in the Chapel. Photography and videography are allowed.
However, the Archdiocese does not allow weddings in the Chapel. They do enable proposals, vow renewals, or memorials.
San Miguel Chapel Santa Fe Hours:
Monday: 11 am to 3 pm
Tuesday – Friday: 9 am – 3 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 3 pm
Sunday: Noon – 3 pm
On the first Sunday of the month, there is a Catholic Mass in English at 3 pm.
Docent history talks: Tuesday through Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. where visitors can take photographs and videos.
Address: 401 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Best 3 Old Churches in Santa Fe New Mexico
2. Loretto Chapel
Loretto Chapel is possibly the most famous church in New Mexico because of its miraculous staircase.
It is miraculous because the stair has two complete 360-degree turns with no center pole for structural support. The entire weight of the staircase rests on the bottom stair.
It started in 1873 when the Sisters of Loretto began the construction of the Chapel. They used the same French architect and builders who built the Saint Francis Cathedral Basilica.
The chapel has gothic-style architecture patterned after Archbishop Lamy’s favorite Sainte Chapelle in Paris.
Unfortunately, the architect died before he built access to the choir loft.
Legend states the Sister of Loretto prayed a nine-day Novena to St. Joseph, Patron Saint of Carpenters. They needed help with access to the choir loft.
After the ninth day, a carpenter appeared with only a hammer and a carpenter’s square. He built what is now known as the Miraculous Staircase with simple tools and wooden pegs. After the carpenter completed the job, he disappeared before the Sisters thanked or paid him.
No one knew the carpenter. The Sisters believed the carpenter was St. Joseph himself, and some affirmed St. Joseph sent the guy to build the stairs, the Miraculous Stair.
Visiting Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe
Loretto Chapel, the old church in Santa Fe with a spiral staircase, is no longer serving as a church. It is a private museum and a wedding chapel run by a private entity.
Before you enter the chapel, you will see a tree by the entrance with hanging rosaries.
The Chapel will be on the left after you pay the entrance fee. Immediately, you can see people standing at the back, admiring the spiral staircase. You are not allowed to climb the stairs.
At the front is the altar where people can light a candle.
People still meditate or pray here, so keep your voices low.
It’s a beautiful Chapel. No wonder it’s a favorite place for a wedding ceremony.
You can take photographs or make a video for personal use only. Well-behaved dogs on a leash can join their owner inside the Chapel. Isn’t it great? And you can bring water bottles with closed lids, but no sodas or teas.
Then, visit the gift shop on the other side of the Chapel.
Loretto Chapel Hours:
Monday to Sunday from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
The Loretto Chapel is open 364 days a year and only closes on Christmas Day. However, they host over 100 weddings and other social functions within a year. You might not get into the chapel when in town. Give them a call before your visit.
Loretto Chapel Admission:
Adult: $5
Senior (65 and over): $4
Youth (7-17): $3
Children under 7: free.
Address: 207 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Phone: (505) 982-0092.
Best 3 Old Churches in Santa Fe New Mexico
3. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
To the northeast of Loretto Chapel is one of the famous churches in Santa Fe, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.
The cathedral was built between 1869 and 1886 and designed in the French Romanesque Revival style. It makes the church stand out among the adobe architecture around Santa Fe Plaza areas.
It’s a beautiful church with stunning stained-glass windows.
The architect who built the cathedral was the one who also constructed the Loretto Chapel.
If you like watching or listening to an orchestra, try to visit Santa Fe during the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus performances. They perform in the basilica several times a year. Some of them are free of charge, or pay what you wish.
Visiting the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the Santa Fe Cathedral
Before entering the cathedral, you are welcome by statues of St. Francis of the Assisi on the left and Father Lamy and Saint Kateri on the right.
You will enter through the bronze doors, which have ten bronze panels portraying the history of the church. It was created in 1986.
Once inside, there’s a gift shop on the left. Save it for later. Keep walking into the nave.
You will be amazed by the beautiful of the interior of the cathedral. As in other Catholic churches, there are stations of the cross on both sides of the walls. You will also see the beautiful stained glass windows in this cathedral.
In the center of the nave is the baptismal pool. It’s interesting to see and find the meaning of the animals on the four sides surrounding the pool.
Keep going towards the altar. The altar screen was created for the 100th anniversary of the cathedral in 1986. In the center is the statue of St. Francis from the 18th century. It is surrounded by painted images of saints of the New World.
To your left is La Conquistadora Chapel. It is the only remaining original part of the church that was destroyed during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The Chapel houses La Conquistadora, a wooden Madonna brought to New Mexico by a Portuguese Franciscan missionary in 1626.
On the opposite side of the Chapel is Blessed Sacrament Chapel for prayer.
Then, you can visit the Gift Shop on the way out.
The Cathedral Basilica & Gift Shop Hours:
Tuesday to Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday from 9.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Basilica St. Francis Mass Schedule:
Sunday 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Saturday 4 p.m.
Monday to Friday 7 a.m.
Address: 131 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Old Churches in Santa Fe Map
Go to Taos in Northern New Mexico to expand your old churches tour outside Santa Fe. There are two old churches in Taos you can’t miss.
The first church is San Geronimo Chapel (St. Jerome) inside the Taos Pueblo. There is no entrance fee to visit the church unless you hire a tour guide. You can’t take pictures inside the Chapel, but it is similar to the San Miguel Mission.
On the opposite side of Taos Pueblo is the second church, San Francisco de Asis Mission Church. Thanks to Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keefe, it became the most photographed church in New Mexico.
You can add historic churches to your list by taking the high road to Taos from Santa Fe. El Santuario de Chimayo in the village of Chimayo, Nuestra Senora del Rosario in Truchas, and San Jose de Gracia in Trampas are some of them.
Here are my other posts on New Mexico that might interest you:
6 Best Places Around Santa Fe & Albuquerque, New Mexico, This Summer.
One Day in Pecos New Mexico: A First Timer’s Guide.
Climbing to Alcove House in Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico.
Summer Sled at White Sands National Park in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park Self-Guided Tours.
The World’s Largest Pistachio at McGinn’s Farm – Alamogordo, New Mexico.
These three old churches in Santa Fe, New Mexico are truly unique with distinct architecture and ornate interiors. The original Pueblo architecture of San Miguel Mission with its see through dirt floor and sanctuary steps sitting on plexiglass, unique spiral staircase of Loretto chapel and the legend behind it. And of course the bronze panels, stained glass architecture of Basilica of St. Francis of Assissi.And it would be nice to listen to the Santa Fe Symphony .
Such beautiful churches in Santa Fe, that too at a walking distance from each other. The architecture at San Miguel Mission is so unique, one can tell it’s the oldest church in New Mexico. I love the spiral staircase at the Loretto Chapel. The panel at Basilica St. Francis seems fascinating too with its bronze panels portraying the history of the church!
I had no idea there are many old churches in Santa Fe and I would love to visit especially St Francis of Assisi who is the Patron Saint of Animals.
Love the idea of a self-guided GPS walking tour. I had no idea that there is such a thing and we’d love to try this instead of getting a regular tour guide.
You can definitely tell that San Miguel Mission Church Santa Fe is very old, by its unique architecture. I don’t think I have ever seen a church to look like that before. I am glad that they preserved the original floor, and that you can see it through a protective glass panel. The The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi reminds me of some of the churches I have seen around my travels around Central America. I like this type of architecture, so imposing over the buildings around it. I would like to visit the Loretto Chapel to see that unique staircase. It’s so beautiful.
I think it’s really cool to see the original floor of San Miguel. And you are right about the similarity of The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi with churches in Central America.
Well-maintained old churches in Santa Fe! I am particularly amazed by that spiral staircase in Loretto Chapel. It is an incredible feat by the carpenter that it has no structural support and is still standing perfectly well. I am also impressed by how the original dirt floor and sanctuary steps are seen through the plexiglass floor windows. I have not been to New Mexico yet, but would love to visit this place someday.
Oh WOW I had no idea the oldest Church in North America is in Santa Fe, on my next visit to Albuquerque for Balloon Fiesta I’ll be sure to make the drive to Santa fe, thanks for the amazing write up and the Map.
You are welcome!
A 3-minute walk away from each other sounds like the churches are clustered together in an area which makes it a perfect visit when in Santa Fe. The miraculous spiral staircase in the Loretto Chapel would be reason enough for me to make a stop for a visit. Love the story about the prayer to St Joseph who provided the best solution for the chapel too.
The architecture of these three are so interesting! The mission definitely has the look of what I’d expect to see in Santa Fe. The staircase inside Loretto looks so stately, too. I’ve never been to Santa Fe, but it’s on the list of places I want to go someday!
I hope you will make it there soon than you think!
We had a quick visit to Santa Fe and had to choose one church. We decided we wanted to see the inside of the Loretto Chapel. The stairway was definitely worth the visit. I can see why it is a favourite for weddings. San Miguel Mission adobe facade definitely looks from the outside like I would expect a church in this part of the country to look like. By contrast Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi looks much like cathedrals around the world. It would be great to visit and enjoy a chorus performance.
You are right, Linda! The Basilica looks much like any other cathedral around the world. That’s why I like San Miguel Mission best because of its humbleness.