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    El Santuario De Chimayo

    4.9 (73 reviews)
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    Sarah S.

    This is such a beautiful place to see. Whether or not you are religious, this is a special place to visit and reflect. Even though I am not a Catholic, I felt very welcome here. The chapels are lovely to go into and just be still. They have a couple of shops you can visit around them, and you can collect some Holy Water and Dirt to take with you.

    Jo S.

    I enjoyed visiting El Santuario de Chimayo more than I thought. It is located outside Santa Fe, we stopped on the way to Taos and spent more time that I thought. The grounds are fascinating to visit, the whole place is unique and has a lot of history behind it. It is a place for pilgrimage for lots of folks, there are time periods where it can get very crowded. Built in 1816, Chimayo went through more additions and troubles. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1970. For me, the building is very New Mexico in the good way style wise, simple, with adobe accent. The place si a bit isolated, quiet, spiritual. Like no other I have visited. Definitely stop by if you visit this part of NM!

    Nicole E.

    Kudos to the folks walking the pilgrimage trail. It's some 7.5+ miles. We drove it. The pastor Roca only died some 7 years ago that had started the most recent walks for over 40 years. You need proper shoes, hat and sun protection and lots of water and snacks too. You don't realize how far a walk it is until you drive it. There are port-a-Johns along the way. The church is compact but still serene and quite peaceful too.

    Tiam L.

    What a beautiful sanctuary in northern New Mexico. I'm not Catholic but Christian, but I found this place to be quite moving. It's a very quiet and calming place. It's amazing to stand and soak in a place that's been around for over 200 years. A bit somber to see all of the pictures and kid shoes, but I was in awe seeing all of the crutches lined up. Lastly, we did take a bit of dirt to take back. I got two very small snack containers, one for myself and one for my sister. I will say if you're coming to get the dirt don't be selfish and dumb about it. There was a couple in front of us who were taking bags and bags and containers of the dirt. They were also taking a lot of the holy water that was in front of the chapel. Don't be that person. I can taking some for a family member or two if they can't come with you, but it was like they were taking loads back for an entire village. I don't know it was just a bit weird and off putting. You're still in holy ground in a holy place, don't lose your common sense when you're there.

    Elizabeth M.

    When you enter through the public parking lot at the back, you may come across three statues that symbolize three cultures that defined New Mexico. Behind these 3 statues is the Virgin of Peace. The church is very old and rich in history People can take time inside when there is no mass. El Santuario de Chimayo is sacred, calm and full of peace and spirituality. I think that you can feel all that even if you practice another religion that is not Catholic or do not practice any. It is really a very quiet and beautiful place. Every time we visit Santa Fe we make the journey to Chimayo and enjoy its surroundings.

    Renee N.

    I can't believe that it has taken me so long to review this incredible, historical church. My husband and I were on our 25th wedding anniversary trip in the fall of 2017 and this stop was just one of many surprises that he had in store for me. We took a beautiful route up through the mountains to the quaint little town of Chimayo, New Mexico. The sanctuary was built in 1816 and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark as of 1970. Many people have made the pilgrimage to visit this place and now count me in as one of them. The sanctuary does not allow any pictures, but once you have been there you will never forget it. Upon entry into the sanctuary there is a six foot crucifix with Christ. It definitely stops you in your tracks and made me sit down and listen. It was so quite and I felt such a powerful, spiritual force at work here. The grounds cover 6.4 acres and there is a lovely creek that runs through the property. The stations of the cross are built out of stone and also run along the perimeter of the property. The peaceful gardens are blessed with all kinds of crosses and fountains. Many people have come here and brought pictures of their loved ones, asking for prayers and/or blessings. There are so many little shrines set up for people from all walks of life and all ages. In a small little room called the "el pocito" which means little well there is hole in the ground where the "Holy Dirt" lies. You are allowed to take some of the dirt with you but you have to supply your own bag. Many pilgrims rub it on your body which is what I did along with saying a prayer. The dirt is supposed to have healing properties and it definitely helped me when I had fractured my foot. It is not recommended to eat it, but long ago some pilgrims did. I shared the dirt with some of my catholic friends who really appreciated it. My experience here was so uplifting and I am so glad that my husband and I were able to visit this magnificent church. I highly recommend when you are in New Mexico that this is a stop on your journey.

    Marie S.

    4.5 stars I had never been here before and had always wanted to come, especially on Good Friday. Given the Governor's/Archbishop's orders, my friend and I decided to make the drive up there on Palm Sunday. It was great to see so many people had still walked the way. Most of the buildings were open, so we got to go through the Chapel with the holy dirt. I was speechless to see the wall lined with crutches and wheelchairs that no longer are used because of the healing that had taken place on these grounds. They had mass outdoors (due to capacity restrictions and the expectations of larger crowds, but ran out of palms). The setting was absolutely perfect with the gardens, statues, and the creek surrounding the outdoor altar. Father Sebastian Lee was funny and relatable. The snack shack they usually have was closed that day and so was the "barn". The children's chapel was open, and it was sad to see the tiny shoes lining the ceilings donated by families of the children who are no longer around... The roads going through Chimayo are like their own town with a market selling paintings and chile and playing Spanish guitar music. Even if you're not religious, this is still one of the most sacred sites in New Mexico. There are plenty of other restaurants, adobe-style hotels, and recreational activities to check it in the area. 2021 #46

    Church near Chimayo, New Mexico
    Krista M.

    An old, old, old historic church that many walk to for the pilgrimage. For me, I drove and stopped when I was on the high road from Taos to Santa Fe. Built in 1816 there is a lot of history here and there are actually two chapels of historical significance. El Santuario de Chimayo is actually designated a National Historic Landmark. The first chapel we explored has the small pit of Holy Dirt. Most people come to see the Holy Dirt but I was more taken aback by all the crutches in this place. Unfortunately there was no one from the church to answer questions but several were answered by the kind woman working at the nearby trading post. She informed us that people will walk into the church with the crutches and be cured, leaving them in the church as they walk out independently. It is thought the Holy Dirt has healing powers. Similarly, we did not even know about the second (church of children) until we went in the nearby trading post. Santo Nino de Atocha Chapel has a ton of children's shoes - we were told to not be alarmed and that many people bring the shoes here. People also leave what seemed like thousands of prayer requests. The churches are open everyday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. This place is worth checking out if you're in the area and enjoy history. The grounds were quite peaceful.

    Celebremos.
    Markus N.

    1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,vanity of vanities! All is vanity. 3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? 4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. 5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. 6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns. 7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. 8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after. Don't park in the Father's space, the one marked "Priest Parking." He has an earlier Mass on the mountain and to be on time for the 10:30 Mass he must have his space. If you park in his space Mass will start late and there will be an admonition and justifiably so. Rabbit will also have to leave the hot sanctuary and gak in a bucket.

    Cheri Y.

    Time, there is never enough of it. Walking around this church, seeing the walls filled with all the photos of loved ones lost. Many, many faces of beautiful children, men & women. A shrine of baby shoes fill the walls, toys of every kind, crutches, leg braces, personal items of the sick & weary are all around you. Left behind by a family member who's heart is completely broken. Thousands of faces, thousands of broken hearts. As all of these people were deeply loved, taken too soon. I keep walking thru the church as the sense of loss is overwhelming. I know it all too well. As my husband kneels down & takes some dirt for us we look back of what our lives have held, as the minutes pass, we see what fell through the cracks. Time. As I see more & more people arriving at the church to collect the healing dirt. People on crutches, in wheelchairs, people wearing medical masks, their loved ones faces haunted by precious time. I think of my own loss, my own broken heart. The loved ones that have gone on before me. What I wish could be returned. My mother, my brother, my only child. Parts of our lives we withheld, time did not warn us. The times we squandered. Time passes, minutes turn into hours, hours turned into days, days into months, months into years, I do not forget you, my heart does not forget you nor does it stop breaking. Time only goes by. Time after time I try so hard to forget the tragic blemishes of life, it's stains of sorrow & regret. I wish we would have never fought. I can not take back that time. Its said that time heals all wounds but I have not found that to be true. And as my husband & I get ready to leave with our dirt, our little container of hope, we decide to stop & kneel to pray. My whole future, all my hopes & dreams, all the time I have left is sitting right beside me. My husband takes my hand in his as we say a little prayer. I pray for all the broken hearts, the children, the men & women, all the faces, the sick & the weary, their loss, their grief I know so well. Then I pray as I pray every time, that for my remaining loved ones, time be kind. This church is a very very special place that everyone should visit at least one time.

    El Santuario De Chimayo
    Yuko H.

    The sanctuary at Chimayo, as the name of this place suggest, many pilgrimage visit this Roman Catholic Church. They have holy dirt and it is believe to cure sickness or brings miracles. I suppose you need to believe in to work? I didn't take any for those actually in need. This place left me with lots of question marks in my head. I need to look up online to learn more about this place. I stopped by here without knowing anything about it. Why am I leaving five star useless review? I felt so peaceful here. Can't explain it. Hardly any cell signal here. I had to drive about a mile to get my cell signal back for Yelp check in and direction to my destination. I will try to learn more about this place before my next visit to Northern New Mexico and will update my review. Until then hope you enjoy your visit to this peaceful place.

    Paisley T.

    Incredible. Just plain incredible. It's like living history. Sincretismo in progress. I guess this place is popularized for its miracle presence. But I'm persuaded that humanity presence here is what makes this place awesome. It's so colorful and full of life. Retablos and images are so relatable. Stories out of the bible come to life here. And loved ones who have passed through here come to life. It's like a celebration of life rather than death. And it's a stark contrast to typical Catholic churches that are cold, quiet and empty. My favorite was the Santa Nino de Atocha church. You could spend hours taking in all the wooden benches and retratos that tell a story. And the color. So much color. So much vibrant life all around. That and the tamales are really good.

    Heather T.

    This is a hard place to find! We drove up and down the road more times than I care to admit before finally stopping to ask for directions. Once we had a better idea, we paid far better attention to the signs and found it. We are not particularly religious but always find it interesting to look at the beauty of older churches. The paintings and architecture are really beautiful here. This church is known for its healing of the sick and there is a room to get healing dirt. We didn't partake in that but it was interesting to see. There is a trading post next door where we bought some of the local chimayo chili.

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    Ask the Community - El Santuario De Chimayo

    Review Highlights - El Santuario De Chimayo

    From the holy dirt to the beautiful art gallery there is an experience for those religious and non religious alike.

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    The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi - Interior: altar

    The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

    4.5(107 reviews)
    20.9 mi

    Gayle and I returned to the Basilica as part of our Santa Fe Footprints walking tour. Our guide…read more(Terry) provided history of Bishop Lamy's work in Santa Fe, and with help from the Jewish Community at the time. That's why you'll see the Hebrew for God at the entrance to the Basilica. Apparently, the statue of Bishop Lamy was also an espionage meeting point during the Manhattan Project. There there's the La Conquistadora Chapel: the only surviving portion of an older church destroyed in the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. It houses a 30-inch wooden statue of the Virgin Mary brought from Spain in 1624, making it the oldest representation of the Blessed Virgin in the United States. At the entrance is the statue of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American canonized by the Catholic Church. Rather than traditional Mohawk attire, she is depicted in Native Pueblo style. And there's more, and something to discover for yourself as you wander in. Helpful docents were available just into the Church during our visit. There's also a pretty good gift shop just as you come in.

    What a beautiful and historic basilica names after an inspiring Saint…read more The entire edifice is carefully adorned with details that point to Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. I was in awe of every part as it uplifted my heart and inspired my soul. Being the Christmas season, there were additional adornments such as a stunning tin decorated tree and an intricately hand-carved wood nativity. We also had the privilege to see a children's nativity and songs. It was so touching and those putting it on invites us to join and enjoy a meal with them.

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    The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
    The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
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    San Jose de Gracia - San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas

    San Jose de Gracia

    5.0(3 reviews)
    13.7 mi

    We have not been by this Church since my wife was at the university and that was sometime ago. She…read morewas studying New Mexico Art History. One of her papers was on the churches of northern New Mexico. We spent the whole weekend driving around northern NM peeking into Churches,taking pictures, asking questions and writing notes. San de Gracia was one of my favorites; built in 1760 in Las Trampas NM.

    San Jose de Gracia is a mission church on the High Road to Taos. It's where the state highway…read morebecomes a two-way road with steep drop-offs and spectacular views. New Mexico has its mountains;it's where the Rockies end. San Jose de Gracia is a remote place of pilgrimage;it's a mission church for Holy Family Parish in Chimayo. They have Sunday Masses;it's like the 19 of the 21 California missions still with active congregations. San Jose de Gracia was built in the mid-1700s. It was completed in 1776, the year that the 13 colonies in the East declared independence. When the Liberty Bell rang in Philadelphia, San Jose de Gracia's bell was tolling to announce Mass. It was restored in the 1960s by architect John Gaw Meem, who designed the campus for http://www.sjcsf.edu San Jose de Gracia has beautiful paintings and reredos (altar screens) It's spiritual beauty in the midst of Nature. It's a piece of history that's still in the present. Its adobe walls shine against the stark blue sky and tremendous sunlight. It's a spiritual place in Nature's tabernacle.

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    San Jose de Gracia - San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas

    San Jose de Gracia de Las Trampas

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    San Jose de Gracia Catholic Church

    Blaze Christian Fellowship - Sunday services 8:30 and 10 am

    Blaze Christian Fellowship

    5.0(1 review)
    27.8 mi

    Let me start by saying I am a member of Blaze Christian Fellowship, and have been attending this…read morechurch for quite some time (over 5 years). I love this church! The pastors are awesome, and are without a doubt fully committed to preaching the Gospel in it's entirety. Their focus on theology is refreshing, to say the least. If you have kiddos, they have an awesome children's ministry with a staff that have a real heart for children! They break down the Gospel, and teach it to the kids at their level (I'm always blown away with how much Gospel application is taught! The understanding my 6 year old gets during Sunday school is incredible! He actually gets mad at us when we miss church. LOL!). There is a true sense of community at Blaze that extends far beyond the walls of the church building, a real sense that you are surrounded by people who actually care, and are willing to walk alongside you through your ups and downs, which brings me to my next point: Community Groups. Community groups are awesome! I can't understate how vital community groups have been to me, personally, in my walk with Jesus! However, this is a huge part of the church that is not experienced by attending a Sunday service. Unfortunately, many people will never understand how important community groups are. There is something special about getting together, sharing a meal, and discussing the sermon that was preached. It's encouraging and challenging. In closing, as a resident of Santa Fe, NM, I have witnessed and participated first hand in meeting needs in our community alongside the members and staff of Blaze. It's a great place to attend if you're looking for a Bible believing, Gospel-centered church that doesn't compromise the message to fit into any mold. PS - If you'd like to listen to a sermon or two before you actually attend, check out the website: www.blazeonline.org

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    Blaze Christian Fellowship

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    El Santuario De Chimayo - churches - Updated July 2026

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