Why you should visit Loretto in Santa Fe.
Just off the Santa Fe Plaza, tucked behind adobe walls and towering cottonwoods, stands the Loretto Chapel — a 19th-century Gothic Revival jewel best known for its miraculous spiral staircase. Built in the 1870s for the Sisters of Loretto, the chapel was inspired by Paris’s Sainte-Chapelle, with soaring arches, stained glass shipped from France, and a sense of elegance rarely found in the Southwest.
But it’s the staircase that steals the show. Rising in two perfect 360-degree turns without a visible means of support, the wooden spiral seems to defy logic, physics, and centuries of architectural convention. Legend holds that it was built by a mysterious carpenter who appeared after the sisters prayed for help, then vanished without a word — leaving behind what many believe to be a miracle.
What you didn’t know about Loretto Chapel.
The staircase contains no nails, only wooden pegs, and for decades it stood without a handrail. Modern engineers still marvel at how it bears weight so flawlessly. Some even suggest the wood itself is not native to New Mexico.
Beyond the staircase, the chapel itself offers quiet beauty often overshadowed by the legend. The stained glass windows glow with intricate detail, the vaulted ceiling lifts the eye heavenward, and the carved altar speaks to the Sisters’ devotion and perseverance in Santa Fe’s early days.
How to fold Loretto into your Santa Fe trip.
Located just steps from the Plaza, Loretto Chapel makes for an easy detour between shops, museums, and historic landmarks. Visitors can admire the staircase from the pews, walk through the small museum, or pause for reflection in the hushed, golden light of the nave.
Plan for 20–30 minutes here, or linger longer if you want to soak in the serenity. Pair it with a stop at the nearby Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis for a one-two immersion in Santa Fe’s spiritual history.
Hear it from the Foresyte community.
“You walk in and it’s all about the staircase. It winds up like it shouldn’t even be standing, no nails no explanation, just there. You don’t have to be religious to feel it hit you. It’s quiet, it’s quick, but it sticks in your head after you leave.”
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