Santa Fe Plaza

Santa Fe, founded in 1610, is the oldest state capital in the country, and its historic plaza is the earth-toned heart of a city built in adobe, where Pueblo, Spanish and American cultures meet. Low, rounded clay buildings house galleries, silver and turquoise sellers under the portal of the Palace of the Governors, and the light draws artists as it long has.

What you actually see

• The Plaza and Palace of the Governors - the historic square and the oldest public building, where Native artists sell under the portal.
• Adobe architecture - the earth-toned Pueblo-Spanish style of the whole old city.
• The galleries - the art scene, from Canyon Road to the museums.
• San Miguel Chapel - one of the oldest churches in the country.

When to go

Late spring to autumn for warm days and events, though the high desert nights stay cool; the Indian Market in August and the festivals are highlights. Winter brings snow to the adobe.

Honest expectations

It is a small historic core within a spread-out city, so it is a stroll-and-gallery day rather than a list of big sights. The plaza is touristy, and prices in the galleries run high. Its magic is the light, the adobe and the layered cultures rather than a single monument.

Nearby

Canyon Road's galleries and the museums are close; Taos Pueblo and the high desert lie to the north.