St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center

Top choice in Rhode Island

LoginSave

It's a real surprise to find something of this rarity and beauty in sleepy Woonsocket. Now home to a busy arts and cultural center, the former Church of St. Ann features walls and ceilings decorated with North America's largest collection of fresco paintings: imagine the Blackstone River Valley's version of the Sistine Chapel and you'll be in the ballpark. Tours, held every Sunday, are worth every penny. Check the website for details of coming events.

If you're not up for a tour, why not join the congregation of the Firm Foundation Christian Church for a sneak peak during mass at 10am on Sunday.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Boston, MA - 9/11/20: A welcome arch of butterflies and flowers made of traditional Chinese lanterns, spans the entry of the Franklin Park zoo for Boston Lights; Shutterstock ID 1824698471; your: Claire Naylor; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: Boston POIs

    Franklin Park Zoo

    29.5 MILES

    Tucked into Franklin Park, the zoo features a half-dozen different habitats, as well as special exhibits devoted to birds and butterflies. The highlight…

  • Rhode Island, Providence, State House, State Capitol. (Photo by Education Images/UIG via Getty Images)

    Rhode Island State House

    12.98 MILES

    Designed by McKim, Mead and White in 1904, the Rhode Island State House rises above the Providence skyline, easily visible from miles around. Modeled in…

  • PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND - JULY 24: The Athenaeum (1838) on July 24, 2015 in Providence, Rhode Island; Shutterstock ID 305923790; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Content Asset; Full Product or Project name including edition: Guides Project Eastern USA

    Providence Athenaeum

    13.44 MILES

    One of the most prominent buildings on Benefit St, the Greek Revival Providence Athenaeum was designed by William Strickland and completed in 1838. This…

  • Roseland Cottage

    Roseland Cottage

    24.95 MILES

    This colorful museum was once the summer home of Henry Bowen and his family. Meticulously maintained by the fabulous people at Historic New England, the…

  • Benefit Street

    Benefit Street

    13.5 MILES

    Immediately east of Providence's downtown, you'll find College Hill, where you can see the city's Colonial history reflected in the 18th-century houses…

  • Slater Mill

    Slater Mill

    10.86 MILES

    Slater Mill, on the banks of the lower Blackstone River, has been dubbed the 'Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution' – with good cause. It was…

  • RISD Museum of Art

    RISD Museum of Art

    13.41 MILES

    Wonderfully eclectic, the Rhode Island School of Design's art museum showcases everything from ancient Greek art to 20th-century American paintings and…

  • Colt State Park

    Colt State Park

    25.44 MILES

    Bristol’s Colt State Park is Rhode Island’s most scenic park, with its entire western border fronting Narragansett Bay. The parks is fringed by 4 miles of…

View more attractions

Nearby Rhode Island attractions

1. Museum of Work and Culture

0.94 MILES

This large museum tells the stories of the settlers, mostly French Canadians, who came to Rhode Island's mill towns in the 19th and 20th centuries in…

2. Woonsocket Falls

1 MILES

Woonsocket's eponymous falls are the largest on the Blackstone River. They have long been a source of hydropower for local industry: today they look just…

3. Smith Appleby House

7.35 MILES

The oldest portion of this charming country homestead dates to 1696 and was once inhabited by landowner Elisha Smith. Set on a scenic wooded site by the…

4. Lincoln Woods State Park

8.55 MILES

A short drive (or bike ride) north of Providence, Lincoln Woods State Park has 627 acres of beautifully maintained grounds, extensive hiking trails, 92…

5. Slater Mill

10.86 MILES

Slater Mill, on the banks of the lower Blackstone River, has been dubbed the 'Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution' – with good cause. It was…

6. Rhode Island State House

12.98 MILES

Designed by McKim, Mead and White in 1904, the Rhode Island State House rises above the Providence skyline, easily visible from miles around. Modeled in…

7. Prospect Terrace Park

13.19 MILES

A great spot from which to get an overview of Providence is this elevated, compact green space known as Prospect Terrace Park. In warm weather, you’ll…

8. Waterplace Park

13.23 MILES

The landscaped cobblestone paths of the Providence Riverwalk lead along the Woonasquatucket River to Waterplace Park’s central pool and fountain,…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "usa/rhode-island/woonsocket/attractions/st-ann-arts-cultural-center/a/poi-sig/1610836/1342586",
  "destination": "Rhode-Island",
  "continent": "North-America",
  "country": "USA",
  "region": "Rhode-Island",
  "position": "superzone"
}