Albuquerque was founded in 1709 as Villa de Alburquerque. The Old Town area is where the first village stood. The old town was founded in 1706 by Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdés, the governor of New Mexico, and named after the Duke of Alburquerque, the viceroy of New Spain. Alburquerque was a small farming village along the Rio Grande for most of its history. This all changed in the 1880s with the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad That is the same time the spelling changed from Alburquerque to Albuquerque.

The San Felipe de Neri Church was first build shortly after the founding of Albuquerque, and was named in honor of King Philip of Spain. This current structure dates to 1793. The faithful built it of adobe bricks in the form of the cross. The church has Santos and other religious objects that are nearly as old as the church itself. From researching my genealogy, I have found many an ancestor who were baptized & married in this church.

SHOPS IN OLD TOWN - Old Town has long been a favorite with tourists visiting New Mexico. For me it has always been a favorite strolling spot. On Christmas Eve, Old Town is filled with farolitos (brown bags filled with sand & a candle to make the bag glow). On this night many of us living in Albuquerque gather to share the holiday spirit with other folks!