An aroma of art and culture at Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

First of all, you should know that the museum's exhibition features over 2,500 works, an incredible number that proves just how much this museum contributes to the cultural weight of New England's largest city. What's more, Mrs Gardner, a wealthy woman, was helped in her research and collection of works by historian Bernard Berenson. The museum is housed in Mrs Gardner's former home, a copy of a delightful Venetian palace. This small palace was built in 1900, and still retains the same atmosphere as when the owner lived there.

The works of art are displayed in a manor house, where the furniture and fabrics also create a sense of discovery, while the collections are exhibited in galleries laid out around the superb interior garden. This Renaissance-style patio, with its beautiful colonnaded windows, is a real invitation to travel...

The collection is highly eclectic, and includes a number of masterpieces. But it is its variety that surprises visitors most. The works, which are mainly European and American, cover a wide range of artistic forms, and visitors can spend hours admiring works by Raphael, Rembrandt, Giotto and Rubens.

Titian's famous painting Abduction of Europa is also on display here. Don't miss the portrait of Isabella Steward Gardner in the Gothic room. This*work was painted by her friend, the American artist John Singer Sargent, and the museum also houses a number of handwritten letters, including one by Georges Sand.

The remarkable tapestry room is the setting for concerts organised by the museum. This tradition has continued since Mrs Gardner's death in 1924, and the museum occasionally hosts temporary exhibitions. The main collection, however, is on permanent display, which is why your visit will take place in specially subdued lighting, to protect the works on display.

Take a break during your visit

You can grab a bite to eat or a drink at Café G. It faces the garden and is located in the wing of the museum designed by architect Renzo Piano. A visit to the museum ends with a shop where you can do your shopping, all under the sign of art!

📍 Location: 25 Evans Way Boston, MA 02115

🚌 How to get there: Access by underground from the Green Line E. Museum of Fine Arts stop. The Museum is also accessible by car from downtown Boston. The museum area has several private car parks.

⏰ O pening hours: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is open 6 days a week, closed on Tuesdays and certain public holidays. It is open from 11am to 5pm, with late-night openings on Thursdays until 9pm.

👛 Price:

• Adults: $20
• Seniors aged 65 and over: $18
• Students: $13
• Children under 18: Free

As an added bonus, the museum is free for life for all Isabelles!

More information on ticketing and the museum's exhibitions here

👉 When should you go to discover the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston?

Depending on the time of year, the patio garden is covered in flowers. In spring, tulips brighten up the flowerbed. In winter, the red flowers add a different atmosphere.

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Families beware, the apartment-hotel Sonder at Pierce Boston is made for you! In fact, this 4 star establishment has flats that can accommodate up to 6 people! Each apartment has a kitchen, living room and at least one separate bedroom. This apartment-hotel is ideal for a long stay in Boston. You'll feel right at home at the Sonder at Pierce Boston! Finally, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is located not far from the apartment-hotel, also in the Fenway district.