Visit the Beautiful Gardens and Shrines at The Franciscan Monastery
Need a moment to get away from the noise of the city? Not far from Catholic University of America within Washington, DC lies The Franciscan Monastery Memorial Church of the Holy Land. Built in 1899, it is located on top of a hill and overlooks the suburb of Brookland. Its secluded location offers a quiet, spiritual experience whether you’re a religious fanatic, an agnostic, an atheist or just someone who is craving a little bit of silence.
Walking up to the Monastery you will be impressed by the solitary, graceful structure. The extensive gardens and shrines are equally breathtaking. Just follow the meandering pathways that will lead you to the various points of interest. Careful thought has been placed in the arrangement of the flowers, trees and shrubs throughout the area. You will feel both the solemnity and celebration of your surroundings.
It is worth taking a moment to take a tour of the historic building itself if only to see the painstaking attention given to every single detail inside the structure from the statues to the altars to the marble stairways. The catacombs and crypts also can’t be missed. It will give you an appreciation of a religious world forced underground during the time of persecution.
One of the purposes of the Franciscan Monastery is to provide a place in the United States for people who did not have the time or could not afford to travel to the Holy Land or the Catacombs of Rome. For the rest of us, it is a wonderful place to get in touch with the more quiet and subtle voices in our hearts.
The Monastery is Metro accessible. Gardens are open to the public daily from 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM. Tours of the Monastery are available and FREE.
What: The Franciscan Monastery Memorial Church of the Holy Land
Where: 1400 Quincy Street, NE | Washington, DC
Contact: Tel 202-526-6800
Website: http://www.myfranciscan.org/
Photo via Flickr (Creative Commons) by DCMatt
Category: THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND DC
one of my favorite places in dc and near where i live. i take people on tours all the time to show this hidden masterpiece. favorite part is the rosary in over 100 different languages inscribed on the walls.
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