Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston
In the grand tapestry of Boston's architectural history, this neo-Gothic cathedral stands as a magnificent thread, woven into the cityscape in 1875. Once crowned as America's largest Catholic cathedral, rivaling the grandeur of London's Westminster Abbey, it continues to reign as New England's mightiest Catholic sanctuary. At the heart of the archdiocese of Boston, it serves as the archbishop's episcopal seat, preserving a rich legacy that extends to its remarkable 1875 Hook & Hastings pipe organ, a colossal musical masterpiece unmatched in the company's history.
Fashioned from the enduring Roxbury puddingstone and limestone, this architectural marvel spans an impressive 364 feet in length, 90 feet in width, and soars majestically to a height of 120 feet. If it were a house, it could comfortably host over 1,700 guests for a dinner party. Impressive, right?
Stepping inside, you'll discover the South Transept, guiding you to the Chapel of Our Lady, where a German-crafted statue of Our Blessed Mother stands in grace. Meanwhile, the North Transept leads to the Chapel of Blessed Sacrament, where a lovely Tabernacle, hailing from Spain, awaits your admiration. Yet, the cathedral's crowning jewels are its magnificent stained glass windows, a breathtaking assembly of thirty-two masterpieces, generously bestowed by Boston's affluent families. Among them, a resplendent multicolored rose window depicts the storied figure of King David.
Fashioned from the enduring Roxbury puddingstone and limestone, this architectural marvel spans an impressive 364 feet in length, 90 feet in width, and soars majestically to a height of 120 feet. If it were a house, it could comfortably host over 1,700 guests for a dinner party. Impressive, right?
Stepping inside, you'll discover the South Transept, guiding you to the Chapel of Our Lady, where a German-crafted statue of Our Blessed Mother stands in grace. Meanwhile, the North Transept leads to the Chapel of Blessed Sacrament, where a lovely Tabernacle, hailing from Spain, awaits your admiration. Yet, the cathedral's crowning jewels are its magnificent stained glass windows, a breathtaking assembly of thirty-two masterpieces, generously bestowed by Boston's affluent families. Among them, a resplendent multicolored rose window depicts the storied figure of King David.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Boston. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: 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.
Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Map
Sight Name: Cathedral of the Holy Cross
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Religious
Sight Location: Boston, USA (See walking tours in Boston)
Sight Type: Religious
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.
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
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
Beacon Hill Historic Houses Tour
Boston’s historic neighborhood of Beacon Hill is quite a charm! One can spend hours here, admiring the elegant uniformity and restraint of the architecture; at times, perhaps, imagining people from the past in their horse-drawn carriages. Federal-style and Victorian row houses, narrow streets lit by antique gas lanterns, brick sidewalks and lavender-hued windows adorn the area, which is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Boston Shopping Areas
One of the top shopping destinations in the US northeast, Boston has a strong network of interesting stores, galleries and boutiques to visit along with its many high-class shops, some of which are nestled inside historical buildings. Shopping here in more than one way mirrors the city itself: an amalgamation of classic and vanguard, the handmade and the high-end, and both local and international... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 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
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.
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Boston's Marblehead Eateries
With such a diverse variety of dining cuisines and styles, the little town of Marblehead has something to satisfy every budget and culinary palate. You won't find any neon here, none is allowed in town and there are no fast food or drive-thrus establishments either. Most are quaint and...