philadelphia's magic gardens

There have been beautiful mosaics around South Street for years and I have always admired them and wondered about how they came to be. Magic Gardens was created by the man who made the mosaics and it truly is...magic. The artist has a vivid imagination and loads of creativity and Philadelphia is lucky to have him use our city as his canvas. The Gardens are a walk through of what he has created on an empty lot through many years of effort. Unique, incredible, and lovely.

So unusual and a visual feast. The outdoor section was closed due to ice but there were several street views that could give you a sense of the artwork. Walk around the side of the building and find more fun work. A real perk....walking distance to the Italian Market section. Grab some cheese from De Bruno's or a delicious sandwich from Paesano's for a perfect afternoon treat!

Valentines day on south street. We went to dinner and made arrangements to take the special night time tour of the magic gardens. What an idea ! We arrived at the magic gardens and were welcomed by the employees. Well spoken, educated, personable, and well trained in the area that they were displaying. The magic gardens is actually a row house completely converted into a complete work of art. From the " living room" to the dining and what would be a kitchen area. The 2 powder rooms and basement are covered in mosaics , pottery, figures and paintings. The " upstairs bedroom" area is off limits. Next door, where there would be 2 more row homes. Is an outdoor mosaic pathway, patio, walkway and a series of walls. More mosaics and pottery and various art objects affixed to many parts of this section. The twinkle lights were a nice touch and added even more sexiness to this outdoor area. At the end we spoke with our tour guide and she mentioned you could even get married at this gallery. We would consider this option a close runner up to going back to Puerto Rico. That's how much we liked seeing this place.

Found the attraction uneven. Some of the walls were fun to look at, but some were just repetitious in their haphazardness. I found the rooms furthest away from the entrance to be better thought out. We were not allowed into the large outer portion of the place due to the ice and snow underfoot, but were given no break in the entrance fee. It was fun seeing the related sites around the city.

I had never been to Magic Gardens before, and on my recent trip to Philly, the family and I stopped in. The actual gardens were closed due to the fact that it was February and covered in ice and snow (not to mention the freezing temperatures) so I was a little bummed that I wouldn't get to walk around outside. The second we entered the indoor space, my disappointment completely VANISHED! This place is AMAZING! I could've walked around and examined the mosaics for HOURS. Just when I thought I couldn't be more amazed, the woman at the desk came in and said that since the outdoor space wasn't open, she was going to open up the basement.If you have a chance to check it out, DO IT! Honestly, the basement might be cooler than the upstairs. Also, if you have a chance, pick the brain of the people who work there. The process of how the artist does his work is FASCINATING.One last thing...there are quite a few additional mosaics in the surrounding alleyways and streets. Do yourself a favor and walk around and check them out (there's also a map in the gift-shop area that shows where all of his works are located)

It's my first time to see something so complicated and unique like that.. It makes you feel the craziness of the artist, but after a while you'll realize the magic inside every piece of that craftmenship and become so clear how beautiful it is! Really captivating!!!

On a day trip to Philadelphia, a stop at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens was well worth the visit. Despite the weather limiting outdoor access, this was a fun place to get a dose of art without going to a traditional museum. It was a small yet unexpected attraction in Philly that contrasts the historic sightseeing that the city is known for.

This is quite a different experience... as is the whole of SOUTH st. here in Phila. But just to see the artistry of this WHOLE house and its garden area ... just imagine the how many hours went into the piece of ART will boggle your mind.

The owner who does not live far from the Gallery was there when we visited. He was extremely humble about his outstanding creation. He told us it took him 15 years to collect and construct this mosaic garden. It's really beautiful. I can't wait to go again.

I enjoyed exploring the Magic Gardens. As someone who lives in Philly, I took my time in visiting the site. I was a bit disappointed with how small it was but, I really enjoyed looking at all of the details and work put into the designs.

I had just seen about half of the place and tears started running down my face, I walked a bit more and found another woman sobbing, maybe it was just us two strangers or maybe Isaiah Zagar's work is just beyond any mundane definition. A must-see.

This type of artwork is all around the South Street neighborhood. You have to take your time looking at the outdoor work because of the sayings and quotes that are contained within. The garden itself is a self touring trip. The outdoor area and the cellar contain lots of tiles, mirror pieces, and various other items on their wall display. Some of the artwork might be too sexual for kids.

This is my favorite place in Philadelphia! I love the art, the colors and the neighborhood is beautiful! This is place is a must

To think this is the work of one man is incredible. The mosaics are masterfully down and extremely clever. Everywhere you look and every corner you turn brings new delights. If you get a chance wander around the neighborhood and you will be treated to even more examples of his work.

There is so much to see here that I had to stop, sit and gaze. The mosaic creations are whimsical, colorful, interesting and VAST! Take along a child and see everything through his eyes- you'll both say WOW a lot. Go into all of the grottoes, watch the sun hit the glass and tile and see how they change.Be sure to look outside the building as well as there are mosaics to admire on every wall. If you can, make your visit a day long event, because the Italian Market is so close ( lots to see, eat, see, eat, see, eat) and the surrounding neighborhood also has some gems for food. When your day and your visit to the garden are over, you will still feel the magic of the place! It's an experience.