Photo: Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis Cathedral stands as a perfect symbol for Santa Fe's moniker "City Different." The cathedral is a flowing eclectic mix of styles ranging from traditional adobe to Romanesque and Gothic styles.

The cathedral's Romanesque Revival styled towers were originally planned to be the base for impressive 160-foot steeples, but due to lack of funds these were never built. The left tower is actually a single row of bricks taller than the right tower. The overall design was influenced by French-born Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy who started the project in 1869. One of the best impacts of his influence for me is the large rose window, imported from Clermont-Ferrand in France and brought into town on a covered wagon. If you visit Santa Fe be sure to tour this fascinating structure.