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The Grotto was developed on land purchased in 1923 from the Union Pacific Railroad by a Servite priest, Father Ambrose Mayer, for $48,000. For Mayer, establishing the Sanctuary was a way to repay God for answering his boyhood prayers to keep alive his mother, who had fallen gravely ill in 1892 after the birth of a daughter.
Originally designed as a plant nursery, the Grotta Grande of the Boboli Gardens owes its current arrangement to architect and engineer Bernardo Buontalenti, who re-designed the previous project by Giorgio Vasari between 1582 and 1593, creating three rooms covered with sponges, rocks and other heterogeneous materials, in order to provide a ...
Perched atop Rocky Butte, a Northeast Portland cliff, The Grotto comprises more than 62 acres (25 hectares) of lush, treed gardens. Constructed in 1924 as an outdoor Roman Catholic sanctuary dedicated to Mary, Our Sorrowful Mother, the nonprofit center now hosts 300,000 visitors of all faiths each year. The Grotto’s unique aesthetic, which ...
- How much does it cost?It is free to visit the lower level. Admission to the Upper Gardens: $9.95 for Adults $8.95 for Seniors (65+) $4.95 for Youth (3-11 years) Adm...
- When can I visit?The gardens are open to visitors 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Mother’s Day through Labor Day. The gardens are open year-round, though close earlier with the...
- What is the best time of year to visit?Something is always in bloom at the gardens, from spring bulbs to fall color to winter berries. Check out What’s in Bloom at The Grotto .
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The Grotto was founded by Father Ambrose Mayer and opened on May 29, 1924. However, his inspiration and driving reasons for building the Grotto began when he was a small child and his mother nearly died giving birth. Young Mayer prayed for her to live and promised to build a great work for his church someday if she survived, and she did indeed surv...
While you should of course see the actual Grotto on your visit, don’t assume that’s the only noteworthy sight. The sanctuary is home to all kinds of different gardens and spaces, some free (the lower level) and some with an admission cost (the upper level requires an admission fee, which you pay before you get onto the elevator).
If you only wish to visit the lower level, you can simply walk right onto the property and explore the trails, Grotto, gift shop, and other things located at this level. If you want to take the elevator to the upper level, you can purchase admission at the gift shop or visitor center. The Grotto is open all year long except for Thanksgiving and Chr...
The Grotto is close to the Portland International Airportso if you have a longer layover and want to get out and about, the Grotto is a fine choice. Also near the airport are several golf courses if you want to pair your serenity and reflection with a tee time. Nearby golf courses include Riverside Golf & Country Club, Broadmoor Golf Course, Colwoo...
- 8840 NE Skidmore St, Portland, OR 97220, USA
- (503) 254-7371
The grotto designed by Bernard Palissy for Catherine de' Medici 's château in Paris, the Tuileries, was renowned. There are also grottoes in the gardens designed by André Le Nôtre for Versailles. In England, an early garden grotto was built at Wilton House in the 1630s, probably by Isaac de Caus .
The Boboli Gardens (Italian: Giardino di Boboli) is a historical park of the city of Florence that was opened to the public in 1766. Originally designed for the Medici , it represents one of the first and most important examples of the Italian garden , which later served as inspiration for many European courts.
The Grotto was established in 1924 by Friar Ambrose Mayer, a native of Ontario, Canada, who was sent to the United States where he was a Servite pastor for the Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon. Upon moving to Portland, Mayer found acreage located outside Northeast Portland that was at the time owned by the Union Pacific Railroad Company , and ...
