The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
4.8(2.4K)google
4.5(107)yelp
Historic BuildingIndoorPhoto Spot
Overview
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Spanish: Catedral basílica de San Francisco de Asís), commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, is a Catholic cathedral in downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
Practical Info
MonClosed
Tue9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Wed9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Thu9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
SunClosed
Suggested Duration45-75 minutes
Best TimeA premier year-round indoor architectural landmark commanding the east vista of downtown Santa Fe at 131 Cathedral Pl. Bright, sunny weekday mornings between 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM are peerless; this is when peak daylight streams directly through the imported French stained-glass windows, bathing the Romanesque stone arches and altars in radiant gold.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned at 131 Cathedral Pl, marking the eastern anchor of the historic plaza corridor. Walking from the central square takes less than 2 minutes. If driving into the historical zone, turn directly onto Cathedral Place and pull into the large paid public open-air parking lot positioned right alongside the north transept of the basilica walls.
Travel Tips
- Modest dress attire is strictly enforced at the gate; tank tops, short shorts, or clothing with offensive script are barred, and men must remove caps upon entry.
- The curb space immediately in front of the cathedral steps is a designated fire lane; unattended vehicles will be summarily towed at the owner's expense.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- Sunday and feast day high masses close the nave to casual sightseers; tourist foot traffic is restricted, and using selfie sticks or clicky shutter sound effects is banned.
Reviews
Positive
- A striking architectural contrast to Santa Fe's adobe style; this French Romanesque Revival basilica boasts gorgeous stained-glass rose windows.
- Housing America's oldest Madonna statue (La Conquistadora), its deep spiritual heritage swathes walk-ins in sacred, solemn peace.
- The front statue plaza is meticulously manicured and clean, packed with multilingual pamphlets and smooth, flawless wheelchair ramps.
- As a completely free-to-enter historic landmark directly in the plaza core, its convenience, value, and spiritual depth are flawless.
Heads up
- As an active house of worship, it frequently closes to casual tourists during weekdays for private catholic weddings, funerals, or holy mass.
- Daytime brings heavy waves of tour groups; shutter clicks and heavy footsteps echo across the knave, disrupting the absolute quiet of the space.
- To preserve heritage fabric, powerful modern central A/C is absent, making the interior pews feel stuffy during scorching summer afternoons.
- Surrounded by bustling boutique lanes, the cathedral lot has minimal spaces, forcing drivers to use pricey commercial garages blocks away.