Why Old Town is One of the Best Parts Of Albuquerque

In the heart of the American Southwest lies Albuquerque, which sits atop the oldest farming civilization in North America. Beyond its ancient pueblo edifices and the San Felipe de Neri is
the stark contrast that defines ABQ’s unique personality. For all of its small town tranquility and old-world charms, ABQ is a bustling city filled with massive skyscrapers, endless bike lanes, and commercial projects looking to advance ABQ as a leading city of sustainability and technology in the 21st century.

While ABQ has been declared one of the greenest cities in America (www.newscastic.com/new... and digitally advanced(www.abqjournal.com/109... there’s still areas of ABQ that look like they belong to a world centuries past. As more people come searching for homes for sale in Albuquerque(www.redfin.com/cit... the city continues to change.

For those of us who still want to experience that little bit of history behind the American Southwest, Old Town may be just the place to visit. Here’s just five reasons that Old Town is just about the best part of ABQ.
Rich History

Old Town is an eponym for the pueblo courtyards and cathedral square preserved from the past. While Old Town may be powered by electricity and filled with souvenir shops, there’s still a lot of rich history etched into its walls and landscape.

Founded in 1706, Old Town was the original settlement of ABQ and is anchored by its massive cathedral square. The original church had to be reconstructed in 1793 after a bad rainstorm, which gave birth to the the Church of San Felipe de Neri. The neighborhood has been influenced over the past 300 years by both its early Spanish settlers and the Native American establishments in the area.

The town was originally constructed to reflect old Spanish colonial establishments, which gave way to its central square cathedral and cobblestone streets. This gave way to a very interested mix between cultures and a new form of architecture and art, considered Spanish-Pueblo.
Spanish-Pueblo Architecture

Characterized by bright, adobe stucco walls, flat roofs, heavy wooden beams to support the roofs, sprawled out courtyards, and walls all around almost every structure, Old Town is something completely unique in its construction. It should be stated that Old Town looks different then Sante Fe, although they do have similar influences.

All over Old Town you’ll find cobblestone paths leading up to different shops and bodegas, padios tucked away from the roads, and fine arts centers all around, celebrating Spanish-Pueblo culture. Here, you’ll find one-of-kind sovernoiours not found anywhere else in the southwest and handcrafted jewelry drawing from Spanish-Pueblo traditions. Old Town is a great town to walk around and take in the sights of a world completely foreign from our own.
Strange and Varied Attractions

Speaking of foreign sights, Old Town offers some pretty unique attractions. Aside from its own American International Rattlesnake Museum, you can catch everything from the Turquoise Museum to dinosaur bones at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Oh yeah, did I mention there’s ghost tours!

With over 150 retail shops, museums, and galleries to choose from, there’s endless amounts to do in Old Town. Sometimes the best attraction in Old Town is walking around and viewing the architecture of the the centuries old adobe structures.
Spanish Cuisine

Old Town features everything from traditional New Mexican cuisine like sopapilla to green chile enchiladas. A favorite among locals and visitors is the bacon green chili cheeseburger. You’ll find everything from cozy cafes to al fresco dining at some ABQ’s most highly rated restaurants. The ambience of the city and neighborhood almost feel infused into the cuisine itself, if not complimentary.
The Great Outdoors

Aside from viewing the attractions there’s many recreational activities to do in Old Town. Fishing at Tingley beach is perfect for families and afterward they can go to the awesome ABQ Biopark Aquarium. Go for a leisurely walk through ABQ’s BioPark Botanic Gardens or take a walk through the ABQ BioPark Zoo.