Quick Boston Sights

If you go on a quick trip to Boston, say for two days or around that, there are two places you must see:

>The Boston Public Library: 700 Boylston Street, Copley Square

-This is no regular library, it is a reconstruction of an Italian palazzo [palace/opulent ancient house in the style of the Romans] and is made of marble, with huge bronze engraved doors and full-scale paintings on every wall [like frescos] by Sargent and others
-Be sure to look over sites explaining the paintings so you can catch them all [there are tons in everyr room] and be sure to go out in the inner courtyard [a feature of ancient houses]
-There are paintings showing medieval tales, ancient Biblical stories, almost Symbolist art about civilization, the Greeks and the Romans, and Christianity
-I'm not joking. Astarte is incredible when you see her, but you might miss a ton if you don't read up first.


>The Boston Museum of Fine Arts [MFA]: 465 Huntington Ave (between Parker St & Museum Rd) 

-You will need to spend all day there. Be prepared: come early, eat breakfast in the hotel or down in the MFA basement cafeteria. Do not leave for meals, just eat there [it's great] and make sure to see the Egyptian rooms, the Renaissance work, the Greek and Roman collection [on several floors, don't be fooled--go upstairs more than once]
-also see the large amounts of varied Asian art, the inscribed gem and coin collection, the jewelry collection [if it hasn't moved], the Mondarin classic painting in the side room on the basement floor, the pre-Raphaelites and the American collection: the neo-classists, Sargent and make sure to see Thomas Dewing's excellent, almost Edward Gorey-like [but neo-classical] painting "A Garden"
-they've got neat native peoples art, especially from North America, like this cool feather cape

For nearby food:
-in the basement of the Boston MFA, there's an incredible cafeteria--they have everything for any diet or fancy. Don't go to the fancy little gelato bars upstairs [unless you want gelato], go downstairs for regular food.
-there's a Prêt à Manger right near the Boston Public Library, it's like down half a street--they have everything, every sandwich of every kind, yogurt, fruit, eggs, cookies
-there's also a Marshalls right across from the Prêt food store, so pop in if you want to buy some snacks [they have a really wide variety]