The Cloisters

My graduation countdown clock is set for just over 6 weeks, so I'm trying to spend all my free time left in the City visiting places I've never been to before.  A branch of the Met, a trip to the Cloisters Museum and Garden has been written on my bucket list since freshman year, but only today did I take the A train to 190th Street and see what this museum had to offer.

Basically, it's dedicated to domestic and religious art from the ninth to sixteenth century. Stepping on the grounds really is like walking back in time.

Approximately 3,000 works of art from medieval Europe--like stained glass windows, metalworks, tapestries, bejeweled chalices, and loads of crucifixes--
are on display in this unique collection. 

Every inch of this place, from the stained glass windows to the hand caved  door frames, is a work of art.
Keep your eyes peeled for hidden treasures in every  corner. 

The seven individual hangings known as "The Unicorn Tapestries," are among the most beautiful and complex works of art surviving from the late Middle Ages.  Plus, they hold a bit of mystery.  Even though the Cloisters is celebrating its 75th anniversary,
the history behind the museum's best-known masterpieces still remains a riddle.

Does this remind anyone else of Professor Dumbledore's lectern? 

If for no other reason, you should visit Fort Tyron Park for the spectacular view of Manhattan, complete with the Hudson River. 

As for actually getting to the museum, directions can be found here. Once you've arrived, its suggested ticket price for adults is $25, but don't feel bad if you hand over three, saying that's what I'd like to pay. The man behind the counter may give you a snarky look, but they've got more money than they know what to do with!

If you're at all religious, I definitely recommend a trip to the museum.  But even if your not, go and be wowed by its architecture and gardens.