St Ann Arts & Cultural Center — Attraction in Woonsocket

"The Sistine Chapel of America" is a magnificent church with beautiful stained glass windows, Carrara marble and a multitude of frescoes covering the walls, vaults and ceiling. The church was commissioned in 1913. In the 1920's, over 40 stained glass windows from Chartres, designed and produced by French artists, were installed. In the 1940s, an Italian artist from Padua, Guido Nincheri, used 475 members of the parish and community as models to create the largest collection of fresco paintings in North America. Nincheri slaved away for eight years, painstakingly painting directly onto wet plaster, following in the footsteps of Michelangelo. In 2000, when the Diocese closed and sold the Church, a group of volunteers and former parishioners came together to rescue the beloved church from demolition. They created the St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center to preserve its historical and artistic value. I cannot imagine how anyone could ever consider destroying such an incredible masterpiece. I am so glad I finally had the opportunity to tour it and marvel at its...

My husband and I showed up around 6pm on a Friday night - we are not from the area, and we were passing through and we wanted to see if we could grab a quick tour. They were kind enough to take time out of their night to allow us inside to take pictures and get a mini tour (as it was not the day/time for the normal tours). These individuals are wonderful people, so kind, and they are doing so much to keep this beautiful place open and maintained. More people need to know about this place, and make donations! This is hands down one of the most incredible places I have ever seen. The history is incredible, the architecture, the stained glass - it’s all so beautiful! I hope this place gets the recognition it...

Even though we had read about St. Ann before visiting, we still were not prepared for just how beautiful and impressive the frescoes and stained glass of this cathedral are. We enjoyed a wonderful tour learning about the history of the building and the artist, and about the many community members who served as models for the hundreds of religious figures depicted throughout the cathedral. Having just toured several cathedrals in Europe, it honestly felt like we were back there! I hope everyone has a chance to visit this hidden gem in little old Rhode Island. One note: they only take...