We have each been developing our offerings for many years now, and feature them on our individual websites, A Space for Wellness (Victor) and Some Secluded Spot (Steven). To learn more, please explore.
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Victor
A Space for Wellness
Reflexology • Craniosacral Therapy • Sound Therapy
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Steven
Some Secluded Spot
For silence, solitude, stillness and Soul
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Our Land
We are in a place called L’Azotea (Lah-so-TAY-uh) (Spanish for “the terrace”). The name is descriptive of the land’s location in a flat clearing above the Chimayó valley in northern New Mexico. See our blog, to read more about our home, our land and how we came to be there.
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Chimayó, New Mexico
Chimayo, New Mexico is a small village north of Santa Fe, along what’s known as the ‘high road to Taos‘.
Here is a sweet blog post about someone’s day trip through Chimayo.
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Chimayó by Jarrett Garcia
For well over half a century Chimayó has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in northern New Mexico. Located a short 25 miles north of Santa Fe and 40 miles south of Taos, it is the site of New Mexico’s most famous Spanish colonial church. Dating back to 1816 the Santuario de Chimayó de Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas is often referred to the “Lourdes of America,” for the renowned pilgrimage site. By far the most well known cultural, religious and tourist event takes place during Holy Week when thousands of pilgrims journey to El Santuario de Chimayó. Customarily commencing their religious and/or spiritual trek in the darkness before Good Friday, pilgrims line the highways north of Santa Fe. By Easter Sunday literally tens of thousands of worshipers and visitors pass through the doors of El Santuario, built almost 200 years ago on a site that is sacred to many Pueblo Indians and descendants of Spanish settlers. Believed to be built on sacred earth with miraculous healing powers, the legendary shrine El Santuario de Chimayó is arguably the most visited church in New Mexico and the number of tourist that visit the town is estimated to be over 300,000 annually.
The hallmark religious sites for tourism are the Santuario de Chimayó, and the adjacent Capilla de Santo Niño de Atocha. The Potrero Plaza is home to a handful of independently owned businesses that create an ambiance of small town commerce that can be strengthened by the unification of a merchant population that embodies a clear goal to form a cohesive ACD. There are numerous other popular and frequented destination sites, activities and businesses in and around the vicinity of Chimayó.
The historic Vigil Store (El Potrero Trading Post). The store was established 1921 and remains in the founding family. You can purchase religious objects, tin ware, local wood carvings or a soft drink. It is a good place to find locally made religious gifts.
Chimayó is also famous for the weaving traditions of the Ortega and Trujillo families, who have been weaving in the early Spanish tradition since the 1700’s. Their work differs from that of the Navajo weavers although the artists admit that there has been sharing of styles and materials. Their work is termed the “Rio Grande” style. Chimayo weaving is part of this tradition. Family owned businesses and workshops are part of the acclaimed ‘New Mexico Fiber Arts Trail’.
The annual Chimayó Festival of Arts Studio Tour and High Road Arts Tour are held in September. The Studio Tours provide the opportunity to visit a variety of local artists in their home setting.
The town is famous for its heirloom chile (Capsaisin Annuum “Chimayó”). There was currently in the Chimayó Chile Project that worked with local farmers and artists in order to preserve the native strain of chile and to keep this cultural asset alive in the community.
One of New Mexico’s oldest restaurants is located in Chimayó—Rancho de Chimayó. It is famously known for traditional New Mexican cuisine. The signature drink is the Chimayó cocktail, a tequila and apple cider based drink with fresh lemon juice and crème de cassis over ice. The village has several other traditional cafes and is home to a locally famous tortilla company.
Plaza del Cerro, in the Northern New Mexico village of Chimayó, is the last remaining defensive Spanish Colonial plaza in New Mexico.
The Chimayó Museum Plaza del Cerró is dedicated to educating the public, particularly young New Mexicans, about the history and culture of Chimayó and its surrounding communities, and to supporting the work of established and emerging local artists.
The acequias, particularly in the Plaza del Cerró where one of the oldest intact crop irrigation canals is located. The acequia was probably built by Tano Indians prior to the coming of the Spanish and it still flows behind one side of the Plaza.
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Chimayo videos:
Acequias videos:
Chimayo is between Santa Fe and Taos on what is known as the “High Road to Taos”. For more on Taos and the region:
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Photos by Don Usner
Read this Rolling Stone article about the more painful side Chimayo’s past, by local author Don Usner. See more photography and writing at Don’s website, including his galleries “Chimayo” and “Chimayo Monochrome“.