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Bridgeport, Connecticut: Vatican Gardens Knockoff

Religious shrine of statues and walkways, but described by some as "Creepy." "Treacherous." "Mysterious."

St. Margaret's Shrine

Address:
2539 Park Ave., Bridgeport, CT
Directions:
St. Margaret's Shrine. Merrit Parkway - Exit 47 - left on Park Ave., go 3 miles south, church on your right. Or just two blocks north of Capitol Avenue on the left.
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Visitor Tips and News About Vatican Gardens Knockoff

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St. Margaret's Shrine

St. Margaret's Shrine has actually had a lot of work done in recent years, as the local parish has been re-invigorated.

[Trisha1987, 06/05/2015]

The shrine's abundant outdoor statuary includes 14 Stations of the Cross, shrines depicting the Crucifixion and the Miracle at Fatima, and a faithful reproduction of Michelangelo's Pieta.

Gardens.

Vatican Gardens Knockoff

According to earlier comments, the Gardens were to be a disaster. I guess there has been a revived effort, because I found them to be filled with foliage, potted flowers, and a working waterfall. It can be overwhelming to take it all in, and I wished that I had more time to enjoy every scene the community has created around events in Jesus's life, sightings of Mary, and various saint statues.

[daytripper, 07/25/2014]

Vatican Gardens knockoff.

Vatican Gardens Knockoff

The gardens look mostly abandoned and in disrepair. Although the church that's on the property still holds services, it feels like whoever conceived and built this place has left and no one has stepped into their place.

All of the peeling paint, cracked plaster and overgrown paths give the place an extra creepy vibe.

[Tatyana Jula, 09/10/2010]

Shrine to Saint Margaret.

Vatican Gardens Knockoff

I used to live a few blocks away. St. Margaret's is a mixture of statues, gardens, ponds, and streams and can be beautiful although slightly creepy. Mass is still held at the tiny Catholic Church on site. There was a tiny nativity building that burned down -- every Christmas season the Nativity play was performed.There are old stairways that lead to nowhere and some pathways are treacherous. Some buildings are locked or boarded up but look interesting and creepy. People light Novena candles still. Every summer the Italian American community holds the gigantic Feast of St. Anthony there. The most mysterious building is a large one with a plaza built on top. Some say there is a priest buried under there in the locked doors.

[Tim Foley, 02/09/2002]

Update - photo added June 2004.

Vatican Gardens Knockoff

St. Margaret's Shrine - Bridgeport's own version of the Vatican gardens...built in the 1940's as a peace monument, the Shrine contains copies of statues in grottoes containing mosaics, and replicas of famous pieces like Michaelangelos' Pieta. Actually it is kitschy and beautiful at the same time!

[Mary Witkowski, 09/23/2000]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Tom Thumb, P. T. Barnum GravesTom Thumb, P. T. Barnum Graves, Bridgeport, CT - 1 mi.
Mermaid and Mer-BabyMermaid and Mer-Baby, Bridgeport, CT - 1 mi.
P. T. Barnum StatueP. T. Barnum Statue, Bridgeport, CT - 2 mi.
In the region:
Hot Dog Man Statue, Winsted, CT - 51 mi.

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