Church of San José de Gracia

Santa Fe Region


Begun in 1760 and constantly defended against Apache raids, the Church of San José de Gracia in tiny Las Trampas is considered one of the finest surviving 18th-century churches in the USA. Original paintings and carvings remain in excellent condition, and self-­flagellation bloodstains from the Los Hermanos Penitentes (a 19th-century secretive religious order with a strong following in the northern mountains of New Mexico) are still visible.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Santa Fe Region attractions

1. Picuris Pueblo

5.49 MILES

Tucked inconspicuously below the High Road, just west of the junction of Hwy 76 and Hwy 75, Picuris Pueblo was once among the largest and most powerful…

2. La Chiripada Winery

9.25 MILES

Award-winning vintner, 2.5 miles east of Hwy 68 along Hwy 75, that only uses New Mexican grapes. As well as offering tastings here, it also runs a tasting…

3. Vivac Winery

10.09 MILES

Right where Hwy 68 meets Hwy 75, this winery is run by the genial Padberg brothers, born and raised in Dixon. The Divino and Diavolo reds are the best –…

4. Classical Gas

12.14 MILES

As you drive through Embudo, your eye will inevitably be caught by the array of ancient gas pumps and Route 66 paraphernalia outside Classical Gas. What’s…

5. El Santuario de Chimayó

13.83 MILES

Often called the Lourdes of America, the chapel was built in 1816, over a spot of earth said to have miraculous healing properties. The faithful come to…

6. San Francisco de Asís Church

17.75 MILES

Just off Hwy 68 in Ranchos de Taos, 4 miles south of Taos Plaza, this iconic church was completed in 1815. Famed for the rounded curves and stark angles…

7. Dennis Hopper's Gravesite

18.13 MILES

The wooden cross marking the grave of actor Dennis Hopper is wrapped in bandannas and Mardi Gras beads. They're a simple nod to his role in Easy Rider,…

8. Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo

18.27 MILES

Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, 5 miles north of Española, was visited in 1598 by Juan de Oñate, who named it San Juan and briefly designated it as the first…