St. Leonard's Church and Peace Garden, Boston
Nestled at the juncture of Hanover Street and parallel to Prince Street, Saint Leonard's Church has been Boston's go-to spot for heavenly Italian-Catholic vibes since its inception in 1873. Run by Franciscan friars and known for housing Saint Anthony's shrine, it's the first Italian-Catholic church in all of New England, founded well before pasta became a food group of its own.
As you approach, the Peace Garden flaunts its charm, luring you in with the promise of serenity and a potential divine intervention for your love life or, at the very least, your garden's bloom. Once you've taken in the horticultural delights, venture into the upper church, where the interior décor takes a sharp left turn from Boston's traditionally stark Protestant places of worship. Prepare to be dazzled by the vibrant lineup of saints, an exquisite rendition of the Stations of the Cross, and enough frescoes and stained glass to make your Instagram followers green with envy. Even if you're not big on faith, Saint Leonard's visual spectacle is worth every second of your time.
And here's the best part – they won't charge you a entrance fee, but the gift shop will be more than happy to help you part with a few earthly dollars in exchange for heavenly souvenirs. Consider it your holy obligation to browse the offerings and maybe pick up something.
As you approach, the Peace Garden flaunts its charm, luring you in with the promise of serenity and a potential divine intervention for your love life or, at the very least, your garden's bloom. Once you've taken in the horticultural delights, venture into the upper church, where the interior décor takes a sharp left turn from Boston's traditionally stark Protestant places of worship. Prepare to be dazzled by the vibrant lineup of saints, an exquisite rendition of the Stations of the Cross, and enough frescoes and stained glass to make your Instagram followers green with envy. Even if you're not big on faith, Saint Leonard's visual spectacle is worth every second of your time.
And here's the best part – they won't charge you a entrance fee, but the gift shop will be more than happy to help you part with a few earthly dollars in exchange for heavenly souvenirs. Consider it your holy obligation to browse the offerings and maybe pick up something.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boston. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
St. Leonard's Church and Peace Garden on Map
Sight Name: St. Leonard's Church and Peace Garden
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Boston, Massachusetts
Create Your Own Walk in Boston
Creating your own self-guided walk in Boston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Churches Walking Tour
Boston's great churches are among the most precious of the city's numerous architectural jewels. What makes them special are their unique styles, elegant facades and long history.
Starting with the Old North Church, which towers in the city’s North End, this journey surely feels like taking a step back in time. Legend was made there, in the very place that Paul Revere waited for... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Starting with the Old North Church, which towers in the city’s North End, this journey surely feels like taking a step back in time. Legend was made there, in the very place that Paul Revere waited for... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Boston Introduction Walking Tour
The capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States and it had played a key role in the country's struggle for independence. Founded in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England, it witnessed many events of the American Revolution, including the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill, and the Siege of Boston.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Bunker Hill Walking Tour
Bunker Hill, sitting on the bank of the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts, is a historic site that holds great significance in American history. At its heart stands the Bunker Hill Monument, a towering obelisk commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill, a pivotal event in the American Revolutionary War.
The battle took place on June 17, 1775, when American patriots faced off against British... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The battle took place on June 17, 1775, when American patriots faced off against British... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
North End Food Tour
Boston’s North End is famous primarily for its Italian food. By far not as big as New York's Little Italy, this one-square-mile waterfront community is the oldest in the city, and is packed to the brim with a cornucopia of Italian eateries – restaurants, cafes, espresso bars, pizza and sandwich shops – lined next to each other within just a few short blocks to ensure visitors both a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
North End Walking Tour
The North End was the city's first neighborhood, and one that has been key to its fortunes, having become a hub of commercial, social and intellectual activity by the 1750s. Later known as Boston's Little Italy, it has been home to Italian immigrants through much of the 20th century, and still retains a certain Mediterranean flavor in its many restaurants, cafés, and specialty shops. In... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Historical Cambridge MA Walking Tour
Once a quiet New England farming village-turned capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, today's Cambridge, MA is a university town that dazzles visitors as the home of renowned Harvard University – alma mater of many intellectuals, literary geniuses, celebrities, and wealthy and powerful. Many of America’s elite have spent some time at Harvard, and their contributions to Cambridge have... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.5 Km or 2.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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