South End Walk (Self Guided), Boston

The South End neighborhood is only a few minutes from downtown and is one of the most beautiful parts of the city. In recent years it has become one of Boston’s most popular neighborhoods attracting young professionals, families and a gay and lesbian population.

One of the outstanding features that make the area so attractive are the Victorian brownstone buildings, especially along Tremont Street, Columbus Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue. In fact, in 1973 the South End was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as "the largest urban Victorian neighborhood in the country".

As you observe the architectural details of the buildings, note the many different styles. They include Renaissance Revival, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate and French Second Empire. Also on the National Register of Historic Places is the Cyclorama, a large 19th-century brick rotunda building of the Boston Center for the Arts.

South End also offers lots of good shopping with stores selling men's and women's clothing, handmade gifts by local artists, specialty foods and more. There is also a growing number of manicure and pedicure shops.

When it's time to eat, take your pick from a range of international cuisines on offer in the restaurants, including Brazilian, Indian, African, Peruvian, Thai and Latin American among others. A good place to dine is on Tremont Street which is often called "Restaurant Row".