Santa Cruz de la Cañada Church
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Take a right turn midway through town at Highway 76 to reach the village of Santa Cruz, established in 1695. The sizable church (varied hours, free) that’s here now (turn left at the traffic light after one mile) dates from 1733, and its altar screen is another colorful work attributed to the Laguna Santero, who also painted the reredos at San Miguel Mission in Santa Fe and the church at Laguna Pueblo.
It is dated 1795 but was completely painted over—with the same images—in the mid-19th century, presenting a particular challenge to the preservationists who cleaned and restored the piece in 1995. Each panel presents a different combination of the original artist’s work and the “fresh coat” applied half a century later.
© Zora O'Neill from Moon Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque, 2nd edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.