Visiting Chimayó and the surrounding area this year will allow you to take in some of the area’s most beautiful scenery and historical sites and it's just a short 40-minute drive from Santa Fe. Begin with a tour of El Santuario de Chimayó. Every Holy Week, the streets of the community of El Potrero, located near Chimayó, fill with as many as 40,000 faithful pilgrims making their journey to El Santuario de Chimayó. The santuario itself is modest, yet elegant, famed around the world for the healing power of the dirt found beneath the chapel.
El Santuario de Chimayó
The journey to El Santuario de Chimayó is one of the most important pilgrimages in the world. (Photo courtesy of Santa Fe County)Legend has it in 1810 a local friar witnessed light shining from a hillside and discovered that a crucifix buried in the dirt was the source of the light. After taking the crucifix to a neighboring town, on three separate occasions it went missing, only to be found again in its original location, El Potrero, where, finally, it was decided that it should remain and the chapel was erected. To this day, visitors swear by miraculous healings attributed to the dirt where the crucifix was found.
Chimayó Museum
To learn more about the fascinating history of the little chapel, the surrounding area and its Spanish influence, pay a visit to the Chimayó Museum, a humble museum with a big story to tell. The local patrons who care for the museum and preserve the past for the community are a wealth of knowledge and are eager to share it with visitors. In addition to touring the museum's interior, the greater public is always welcome to participate in the many hosted events, such as poetry readings, history and book talks, classes on adobe brickmaking, and more!
El Potrero Trading Post
Another gem well worth a visit is El Potrero Trading Post, opened in 1921 by Alfonsa Vigil as a small grocery store servicing the local community of El Potrero. It's now filled with local treasures and operated by Vigil's family. The heavenly smells wafting through the Post hint at an abundant variety of chile to choose from; ground, crushed, sundried, red, green, heritage, and standard. The Trading Post also features milagros, small metal religious charms, which in English translates to miracle. These charms are often used as offerings, nailed or pinned to sacred objects and also act as good luck charms for pilgrims.
Ortega’s Weaving Shop
Ortega’s Weaving Shop spans eight generations in the Chimayó weaving tradition. (Photo courtesy of Santa Fe County)
The Chimayó community is still thriving with artists and craftspeople whose skills were inherited from past generations. The weavings found in Chimayó are especially one-of-a-kind and range from wool rugs, blankets and pillows to handbags, vests and much more. Ortega’s Weaving Shop is the essence of exquisite Chimayó weaving, a family tradition for nine generations. The scent of the natural fibers, the creaking of the hardwood floor, and the flawlessly crafted weavings make Ortega’s an excellent stop. You might even get lucky and catch one of the weavers working on their loom.
Gabriel’s
Order the tableside guacamole at Gabriel's. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel's)For a taste of the local culture, Gabriel’s is an excellent stop on the drive back from Chimayó. With its colorful courtyard tables, mouthwatering fajitas, homemade tortillas, fresh-squeezed lime margaritas, and tableside guacamole, spiced with just enough jalapeño to give it a little kick, Gabriel’s is the spot for a tasty respite on your way back to Santa Fe after touring Chimayó. For dessert, don’t pass up the sopaipillas; fluffy pillows of goodness drizzled with a little (or a lot) of honey.
This blog was written in partnership with Santa Fe County.
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