Alexandra Arrivillaga shares her picks for the hidden gems of Boston.

1. EXPLORING THE
HIDDEN GEMS OF
BOSTON
Alexandra Arrivillaga

2. Introduction
When you live in a big city, it’s easy to visit the main tourist
attractions. They are a great example of the city’s history and
growth, such as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (PA) or the Statue to
Liberty in New York City, but they don’t give a complete
representation of the city. You want to really know the city you live
in, not just by reading about it, but experiencing it. That’s why it’s
important to discover the hidden gems of the city to see what makes
it tick. For Boston, it has many historic landmarks and touristy
places, such a Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Freedom Trail. But what
about the other places that add to Boston’s rich character?

3. If you love Italian food, here’s two spots for you. Cafe
Vittoria serves authentic Italian cuisine, including
Italian coffee and pastries (i.e. cannolis). It’s the first
Italian cafe in Boston and has three bars! Monica’s
Mercato & Salumeria has a great Italian sub and offers
imported meats, olive oils and cheeses. Both are located
near each other in the North End.
MONICA’S MERCATO &
SALUMERIA & CAFE
VITTORIA

4. BRATTLE BOOK SHOP
If you want to find another form of history, check out this
book store. The Brattle Book Shop has been in existence
since 1825, and is one of the oldest and largest antiquarian
book shops in the country. You’ll find three floors filled
with books, maps, postcards and prints and more. The
owner, Ken Gloss, lectures on antiquarian books and
appraises books and libraries for Harvard, Northeastern,
the FBI and others.

5. This is not your typical tourist attraction. It is a three-
dimensional exhibit on the world of 1935 – A World of
Ideas. This stained-glass globe immerses you in music,
words and LED lights. It’s an attraction in the Mary
Baker Eddy Library.
MAPPARIUM

6. BODEGA
Why would I put a convenience store on this list?
Because it’s really a shoe store. Behind the groceries is
a secret door (a Snapple vending machine) that opens
up to an amazing shoe store. You’ll find the latest in
sneakers along with urban apparel and art books. It’s
located near the Mary Baker Eddy library.

7. Founded by Puritans, Boston’s cemeteries are worth a
stroll. The Puritans believed in piety, hard work and
education. Their strict moral beliefs banned anything
that was extravagant. To scare visitors into piety, the
gravestones had varied carvings, such as skulls, Father
Time and winged death-heads with a simple inscription
or rhyme. There are five burial grounds, with the King’s
Chapel Burying Grounds being the oldest (1630).
BOSTON’S OLD
BURYING
GROUNDS

8. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME!
C O M P A N Y . C O M