Appreciating Art and Architecture in Boston

New England

October 21, 2024

On Columbus Day, a group of students, staff, and faculty at Thomas Aquinas College, New England, took advantage of the three-day weekend to embark on a much-anticipated day trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

The sightseeing adventure began with a two-hour drive on a crisp morning, made all the better with foliage-rimmed highways and good company. Before arriving at the museum, the group set out some time to visit St. Paul’s Parish in Cambridge. The parish serves as the Roman Catholic chaplaincy for Harvard University students and is known for its gorgeous architecture and sacred music. The church, completed in 1923 and once the tallest building in the area, is Romanesque in style, with round arches and marble columns. The group took a guided tour of the historic church, followed by Mass on the church’s main altar, offered by College Chaplain Rev. Carlos Viego.

Photos: Columbus Day Trip

Fed by the beautiful liturgy and architecture, the students were now eager for the next part of their journey. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, named for its American art collector and philanthropist founder, houses significant examples of European, Asian, and American art permanently exhibited “for the education and enjoyment of the public forever,” as per its curator’s will.

The students took their time savoring a variety of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, and stained-glass windows. “It was so good for us to visit the museum,” said sophomore Teresa Cole (’27). “We get to read so many beautiful texts at the College, including plays and poetry, but appreciating art in its other forms also better rounds you as a person.”

After leaving the museum, the students and staff split up to find dinner in various parts of Boston, many enjoying the local Italian cuisine. All were full of joy as they headed back to campus with exciting stories to tell about a day well spent.

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