Old Town Albuquerque
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Old Town is a historic district in Albuquerque, New Mexico, dating back to the founding of the city by the Spanish in 1706. Today it is a popular shopping and tourist destination. Old Town comprises about ten blocks of historic adobe buildings grouped around a central plaza (a common feature of Spanish colonial towns). Many of the buildings in Old Town are houses that have been converted into restaurants and small art and souvenir shops. On the north side of the Plaza is San Felipe de Neri Church, the oldest building in the city, which was built in 1793. The Albuquerque Museum, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, National Atomic Museum, and ¡Explora! Science Center and Children's Museum are located just to the east of Old Town. Old Town did not become a part of the City of Albuquerque ("New Town") until the 1940s.
The Albuquerque Museum operates guided walking tours of Old Town. Around Christmas, thousands of luminarias line the streets and walkways.
