"Isabella Stewart Gardner was an heiress and something of a black sheep of late-19th- and early-20th-century Boston society: She was a rabid Red Sox and horse-racing fan."

"The pièce de résistance is the magnificent skylit courtyard, filled year-round with fresh flowers grown by the museum's horticultural staff." Full review

"This eclectic museum occupies a meticulous replica of a Venetian palazzo and showcases an unparalleled collection of old masters, Gothic tapestries, and Renaissance furniture." Full review

"The Gardner museum is a lavish reconstruction of a 15th-century Venetian palace, complete with a luxurious interior courtyard with a seasonally changing floral display." Full review

"Often over-shadowed by the Museum of Fine Arts next door, the museum is packed with more than 2,500 paintings, sculptures, tapestries. The Palm Courtyard is one of the prettiest places in town." Full review