The Cloisters

Shanthia and I went to The Cloisters on Wednesday. She mentioned it to me a while ago as a “castle” in New York… but I’m not sure The Cloisters can really be classified as a castle. It seemed more like a monastery, with several outdoor courtyards and cloisters.

The day began with a stroll through Fort Tryon Park, which houses The Cloisters. It’s a very scenic place, and it felt as if I were cutting through a forest to get to the building. Then, the fantasy ended with a couple sucking face somewhere down the path, but it was still very pleasant. There are a lot of nice spots in the park to sit back and read for a while, but it was raining and I was sniffly from a cold so we sped off to find our destination.

While it’s not a castle, The Cloisters combines 3 things that I love: Medieval architecture, art and religion. There are sections of The Cloisters that are actual parts of medieval stonework from the period. It was unfortunate that they didn’t allow cameras inside… because we snuck one in and snapped a few shots off. The artifacts on display are beautiful, and that’s no surprise since The Cloisters is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Don’t worry, we left off the flash to preserve integrity.)

It truly is a beautiful place, and a must-visit if you’re in or around New York. I may visit again next year, but next on my museums-to-visit list is the Museum of Modern Art.

Ray