The oldest state capital in North America, Santa Fe was founded by the Spanish conquistador Don Pedro de Peralta, who created a colony here in 1610. This colony was abandoned in 1680 following the Pueblo Revolt, but settlers recaptured it in 1692. When Mexico gained independence in 1821, Santa Fe was opened up to the wider world, and traders and settlers from the US arrived via the Santa Fe Trail.
The central plaza has been the heart of Santa Fe since its founding, and there is no better place to begin exploring the city. Today, it houses a Native American market under the portal of the Palace of the Governors, and the square is lined with attractive shops, cafés, and galleries.
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Distance 1 mile (1.5 km)
Time 25 minutes
Nearest bus 1
At an altitude of 7,199 ft (2,194 m), Santa Fe is the highest capital city in the US.
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