Boston: V is for Venetian Palace

Welcome to my third year participating in the A-Z Blogging Challenge. This year's theme is BOSTON.

Today's letter is V which will showcase a Venetian Palace.

I absolutely fell in love with Isabella Stewart Gardner - the woman and her museum. Someday I plan to research this mighty feminist who was most certainly ahead of her time. But for now, I will simply admire her love of the arts, her attention to detail, and her generosity to the people of Boston.

Last week I discussed her art collection, but today I want to focus on the architecture. 

The Doge's Palace on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy.
Isabella Stewart Gardner commissioned the architects to
build a replica of a 15th Century Venetian Palace - similar
to this one. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of the outside 
of her museum, as it was under reconstruction during my visit.

First-floor hallway around the atrium garden.
The gothic arches give the space
a sense of grandeur.

Taken from a third-floor window
looking down on the atrium garden.
Stunning!

Peering into the "secret garden"