GUIDES

Boston Guide

Boston - Out and About

Boston, the state capital, is situated in the bay of Massachusetts, near the mouth of the Charles Mystic rivers.

The city was founded in the first half of the 17th Century, and grew in the 18th Century, parallel with its increase in economic fortune. As the city of Boston grew, it encompassed those villages on its outskirts and became the most important Atlantic business centre. Boston’s complex urban network is made up of minor villages that have been swallowed up by the ever expanding city; all this, located in a setting rich in hills and lakes make Boston a relatively difficult city to travel around. The city stretches along a series of small peninsulas, linked by a system of bridges and tunnels, which give the city the feel of an elegant province with a tendency towards being a modern metropolis.

From various locations around Boston, it is possible to comprehend the history of the city. Old Boston can be seen in what remains of the old road network in North End and some of the rare buildings to be found in the Beacon Hill residential district. Some of the buildings in this area date back to the first half of the 18th century, such as the renaissance building which houses the Public Library(1852) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) building (1723).

Most of the historic monuments are situated along the Freedom Trail, an interesting and easy route, best done on foot. The 6.5km route is indicated by a red stripe painted on the pavement. The route leads to Park Street, passing King’s Chapel (1749-1758), the first hotel built in the city and the Old City Hall; School Street houses an old library (1712) ; the Neo Classic Tontine Crescent; the Neo-Romanic Trinity Church and the Neo-15th Century Boston Public Library, with over 1 million volumes; the Shaw Monument(1897) commemorating the 54th regiment of Massachusetts and Smith Court, which houses the African Church (1806), the oldest cultural site of Boston’s black population.

Crossing the John F. Kennedy Expressway, the red stripe leads the visitor to North End. The wooden house at number 19, North Square, now a national monument ,was the old residence of Paul Revere, who, between 1770 and 1800, became a hero of the revolution. The building is the oldest in the city and one of only a few that remain from the colonial period.

The pedestrian area of Beacon Street is lined with old houses and architectural treasures reflect the essence of Boston .Boston is a city of refined cultural tradition and an important centre of learning. The city is the seat of various universities, including the prestigious Harvard University,founded in 1636 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1865).Boston’s numerous cultural institutions include: the Museum of Fine Arts, containing Egyptian artefacts from the IV dynasty; the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, housing a rich collection of Italian art (Tiziano, Rafaello) and the world famous Boston Symphony Orchestra Institute(1881).

The city is serviced by the Logan International Airport and numerous rail links. Boston’s fishing port is the most important in the USA

The city transport system consists of four metropolitan lines, five boat lines and 170 bus routes, that function from 6:30am until late in the evening, allowing the visitor easy and cheap access to the city.

Boston - Not to be missed

Plymouth is a beautiful example of an old New England coastal village. It is advisable to begin a tour of the village from the information centre, on the corner of Water Street and Memorial Drive.

Plymouth is home to a full-size replica of the Mayflower, the ship used by the Pilgrim Fathers when they first arrived in 1620.

Harvard University, founded only 16 years after the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers, merits a visit. Whilst touring the university grounds, it is possible to see the Jonston Gate, the Massachusetts Hall and the University Hall, with its bronze statue of the founder John Harvard.

Botany lovers should explore the Arnold Arboretum (125 Arborway), which boasts a fine collection of trees, bushes, bonsai, lilacs, roses and Chinese plants. The Observatory of the Prudential Centre Sky Walk skyscraper offers fine views over the city of Boston and on clear days, it is possible to see as far as Cape Cod. A worth-while tour is that of the Boston Duck Tour, an amphibious craft, that takes its passengers both along the city streets and onto the Charles River. For a more relaxing tour, try a cruise of the bay and discover the many small islands.

Boston - Walks and tours

The Old Sturbridge Open-Air Museum, 60 miles from Boston, in the heart of New England, narrates the history of the USA.

Cape Cod, comprising New Bedford, is located south of Boston. This seaside town, made famous by Melville and his story Moby Dick, is one of the most popular villages on the East Coast. The whole of the east coast of the peninsula has been declared a protected nature zone.

Boston - The traveller's notebook

Currency : US $ sub-divided into 100 cents.

Electric supply: 110-120 V, 60 Hz

Climate : Humid, the average annual temperature in Boston is between 10-11°C. The State often has hurricanes and tornadoes.

Opening hours : The shops are usually open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, the large shopping centres until 8pm. The banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 3pm.

Telephones : Telephone code: 617

Boston - A pocket guide

Quincy Market was once the city’s open air market, today it is now a bustling centre of shops and restaurants. By taking the fly-over from here, the visitor arrives in North End, the Italian district of the city, the site of a fruit and fish market, which is held every Saturday. Beyond the old port, where restaurants line the waterfront, there are rows of old houses, which once belonged to Boston’s fishermen. The city’s principle street for shopping is Boylston Street. Newbury Street , running parallel to Boylston Street, has numerous health-food stores. The buildings along Commonwealth Avenue, house a large number of university student associations.

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