Best of Boston
2017 Best Overlooked Tourist Destination
The Madonna Queen of the Universe Shrine
It’s strange to refer to a 35-foot-tall sculpture as a “hidden” gem, but this bronze-and-copper marvel (originally created by Italian-Jewish sculptor Arrigo Minerbi in tribute to the Catholic order that harbored him during the Holocaust) seems to inhabit a world of its own from its hillside Orient Heights perch. Those who make the pilgrimage will be rewarded with breathtaking city views—and handy proximity to Belle Isle for an après-awe lobster roll.
150 Orient Ave., East Boston,