New Mexico is a state in the southwestern United States that has many historical and cultural attractions. This is a multinational region with its own specifics. The capital of New Mexico is the city of Santa Fe, besides which there are other large settlements, for example, Albuquerque, Las Cruces, etc. What should a tourist do in New Mexico, what to see and try? Read more about it below.
Historical background
In the 17th century, the Spaniards became interested in this area, who aspired to America, looking for gold and profit. Since that time, the history of New Mexico City (or New Mexico, as we usually call it) has become colonial wars, which brought him a bloody feud between the United States and Mexico. In the United States, this territory was included only at the beginning of the 20th century, and in the 1940s of the last century, scientific and military research was carried out here (including the testing of a nuclear bomb).
What to do in New Mexico?
Among the historical attractions associated with the culture of the Indians, there is a monument called Taos Pueblo, where people from the Pueblo people still live in buildings that are thousands of years old. also inThe state is home to Aztec ruins, rock dwellings from the Gila Valley, and more. others
Contemporary art is booming in New Mexico. Santa Fe is the center of creative life, like New York, Mexico City, etc. Here, artists, musicians and writers draw inspiration from the culture of the Indians, as well as the Spanish heritage, which is preserved through the activities of various centers. For example, the famous flamenco dance is popularized not only in Spain, but also in New Mexico.
The city of Santa Fe has many architectural monuments, such as buildings in the colonial style. Tourists especially like to visit Plaza Square with the Palace of Governors of the early 17th century, the Capilla de Nuestra Secora chapel, which houses the famous statue of Our Lady, etc. In New Mexico, lovers of history and beautiful religious buildings will like ancient cathedrals and monasteries, views which resembles Spanish architecture from the Middle Ages.
State Natural Monuments
The northern part of the state is famous for the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, whose name is translated from Spanish as "the blood of Christ" (this is due to the fact that the local rock has a special red color).
Southeastern New Mexico is popular with tourists thanks to the Guadalupe Mountains, home to one of America's most famous national parks. We are talking about the Carlsbad caves, the formation of which began half a million years ago.
In addition, in this region, tourists like the naturalprotected area "White Sands" on the Tularos Plain. The imagination of visitors is truly amazed by the lunar landscapes of absolutely white sand, next to which there is a zone of black lava of volcanic origin. Such a landscape is truly hard to forget. Just imagine: dunes of sand, which are about twenty meters high, move due to the wind and form amazing natural ornaments. It's worth visiting New Mexico for this!
Gastronomy
The most famous local food, whose history begins on the farms of the state, is chili. It is really difficult to do without this pepper in the preparation of local dishes. Chile even has its world capital in the face of one of the towns in the south of New Mexico - in the city of Hatch.
Every year at the beginning of September, Labor Day is celebrated in the United States of America. These days, the city of Hatch hosts the Chili Pepper Festival, where guests cook and taste local spicy dishes using this product.
