On a plateau at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains at an elevation of 7,000 feet, Santa Fe is surrounded by remnants of a 2,000-year-old Pueblo civilization and filled with reminders of almost four centuries of Spanish and Mexican rule. The town’s placid central Plaza, which dates from the early 17th century, has been the site of bullfights, public floggings, gunfights, battles, political rallies and promenades. A one-of-a-kind destination, Santa Fe is fabled for its rows of chic art galleries, superb restaurants, and shops selling southwestern furnishings and cowboy gear.