Madonna Queen of the Universe Shrine
The 40-foot statue was built in 1954 by the fathers of the Don Orione order. They wanted to create a devotional work to pair with their charitable work at their nursing home across the street, as it was their belief that every charitable work they commit should be paired with a devotional site. She stands atop a globe representing her place in the universe.
The shrine acts as national headquarters of the Order of Don Orione and is a replica of one in the Don Orione Center in Rome. Both this statue, and the original, were sculpted by an Italian Jewish sculptor named Arrigo Minerbi, as a tribute to the Catholic Church for having protected him and his family from the Nazis during World War II. The Order founded a home for the elderly sick here and the statue was brought from Italy and unveiled in 1954 before a crowd of over 10,000. The Don Orione retirement home next door is still in operation and the oversize Mary stands as a reminder of the religious devotion that continues to drive the charitable facility.
The plaza surrounding the shrine give views across East Boston, Logan, Belle Isle Marsh, and further of the downtown skyline. This is probably the best spot in the city to watch planes taking off from nearby Logan Airport.