Copley Square was created after the 1858 filling of the Back Bay Fens area. It was named after American portraitist John Singleton Copley, and is now a central point of Boston. Various types of architecture surround the Plaza: Venetian Gothic Revival in the Old South Church, Romanesque Revival in the Trinity Church, Italian Renaissance in the Boston Public Library, and Modernism in the minimalist John Hancock Tower, designed by I. M. Pei.

In the late spring, summer, and early fall, the Square is filled with bursts of color every Tuesday and Friday for the Copley Square Farmers Market. Local farmers bring in their best produce, often picked that day, and lay it all out in a gorgeous spread that is difficult to resist.

As far as location goes, it doesn’t get much better than Copley Square. It is adjacent to Boylston St., home of the Prudential Center and the finish line of the Boston Marathon, next to Newbury St., and a short walk away from the Charles River, the Boston Public Garden, and Symphony Hall.

Don’t feel like walking around? Copley Square is still the perfect place for you. With the number of major roads that cross through the area, and the amount of businesses, shops, and cafes, it’s an ideal place to sit back and people watch. Maybe you can even listen to the music of a local street performer as you read a book. However you choose to spend your time in Boston, make sure you set aside a bit of your day to experience life in Copley Square.

Image: Flickr, Cmcnulty2000

September 28th, 2009