San Luis
The oldest town in Colorado, San Luis is also likely the most spiritual. Populated by the primarily Hispanic families who settled there in 1851, the town remains small and, in some ways, unique.
Situated in south central Colorado, not far from the New Mexico border, San Luis boasts the oldest church in Colorado and La Vega, a rare public commons — a place where communal grazing of livestock is allowed.
The town is most famous, however, for its Stations of the Cross, a string of bronze statues climbing the mesa adjacent to town. Each station represents a moment during the crucifixion of Christ, and the locale is popular with Christian visitors each Easter. Art aficionados might like to visit the sculptor's studio, located in town at the bottom of the hill.
San Luis also celebrates an annual posada, a Christmas-time procession representing the journey of Mary and Joseph from house to house, seeking shelter for the birth of their child.
A local museum showcases not only the area's history, but also the wares of local artists and crafters. If you spend the night, check in to El Convento, a bed-and-breakfast housed in a former convent. Your alarm clock will be church bells.
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San Luis Valley Colorado Heritage
San Luis Valley Region, Alamosa, Antonito, Creede, Monte Vista, Del Norte, San Luis, CO 81152The towns in the San Luis Valley are among the oldest settlements in Colorado, and, with just 47,000 residents, the valley’s...
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Shrine of the Stations of the Cross
PO Box 326, San Luis, CO 81152Built as an act of faith and love for the parishioners of the Sangre de Cristo Parish.
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Wide Open Spaces: 2 Days in the San Luis Valley & Great Sand Dunes National Park
At the southern edge of Colorado, the San Luis Valley is so vast that you could fit the state of Delaware inside it nearly four times. The high-desert landscape, ringed by dramatic mountains and...
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Colorado RV Vacations for the Family
An RV trip through Colorado means inspiring views and unmatched experiences. Colorado’s myriad roadways all lead to adventure, but if you need a few ideas to get started, consider these tried-and-...
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Colorado Scenic Byway: Los Caminos Antiguos & Great Sand Dunes National Park
Roughly the size of Delaware, the San Luis Valley is one of Colorado’s most impressive landscapes, with massive sand dunes, nine 14,000-foot peaks ringing its edge and the historic Rio Grande...
