What it is like and what to see in Salem, the Witches' Village near Boston

The small town of Salem is famous in the world for the trials that dozens of women suffered at the end of the 17th century under the accusation of brujería.

But what not many know is that it was also one of the most important areas of trade with Europe after the arrival of the English to the American continent.

Taking advantage of our most recent trip to boston, we wanted to explore some area of ​​the surrounding area without leaving Massachusetts and in this way visit this town with so much history.

Curiosities about the history of Salem, the Witch Town in Massachusetts

Salem It is one of the towns with the most history of all United States.

The city is famous mainly for what is known as Salem Trials.

Between 1692 and 1693, almost 200 women were accused of witchcraft, and a few dozen were eventually hanged; that's why currently Salem is known as the Pueblo of the witches.

Today it is a small city of 40.000 inhabitants, where every year the country gathers for the festival of Halloween, since it is the place where this traditional holiday for Americans is celebrated with the most emphasis.

But this place is also one of those that best represents the history of the independence of the United States.

The first Puritan settlers from England arrived here ready to live a new life on the new continent.

It was also an area where many of the first millionaires of the United States lived. United States, who were mostly merchants who traded carrying materials from the Americas and bringing products from all over the world.

Is by Chestnut Street where the mansions that these merchants built to distinguish themselves from the English settlers are located.

Furthermore, the famous meetings of the Tea Party that gave rise to the emergence of the current New England formed by the states of Massachusets, Rode Island, Hair, Connecticut, Vermont y New Hampshire.

Where is it and how to get to Salem from Boston?

Salem It is located 25 kilometers north of boston, and you have two recommended options to go, by car or train.

Our first idea was rent a car to visit some towns and landscapes typical of New England by the way.

But we only needed the car for one day and knowing that the traffic on the city ​​of boston At certain times it is unbearable, we prefer to look at more options.

For visit salem we were planning to hire a guide who speaks in Spanish and in this way we soak up its history.

In the end we decided to hire a Salem tour from Boston with guide in spanish, which also included the visit of Marblehead, beautiful typical town of New England.

This excursion lasts four and a half hours, you travel by minibus and they pick you up and drop you off at your own hotel.

If you prefer to go on your own, as I have mentioned, you also have the option of go by train from North Station, and you will arrive in just over half an hour, with a frequency every hour.

What to see and do when visiting Salem

Below I am going to indicate the Top Places to Visit in Salem.

Salem Witch Museum

If what interests you most is the history related to witches of SalemWithout a doubt this is your museum.

Our excursion included a guided tour of witch museum, in which during a tour of several rooms they explain how what happened came to happen.

To begin with, they explain why 14 women were accused, and then executed, in a first trial that changed the salem history forever.

Currently, the houses of those first women accused of witchcraft are still standing, which can be visited through the Salem walkway.

Once this event has been seen, in other rooms the story is reviewed. history of witches in the world, and when healers and druids begin to be considered witches for their potions.

This museum includes curiosities such as the moment in which through cinema, and more specifically in the film It Wizard of Oz, witches are beginning to be represented with green faces.

Salem Walkways, marked trail to visit the city

El Salem Walkway It is a path clearly marked with a red line on the ground, which Walk through the streets of the city passing by the 14 houses that belonged to the women murdered in that famous first trial.

Is best way to visit the city, because the fact that this path was designed has influenced the preservation and restoration of houses from the early 18th century, which otherwise would have been lost.

It is not easy in the United States to see buildings from the year 1700, since it is a country with a very short history.

However Salem It was one of the first American towns, when they were still English colonies.

Custom House, former Salem customs house

Salem It was very important because it was the first commercial port in the United States, and that's why they needed customs.

This old customs from the time of the Native American revolution against the English, it is an emblem of the history of that city.

This is where the famous movement began Tea Party, which were meetings against the tariffs on tea and the oppression of the English colonists throughout the area of New England.

Right in front, and going unnoticed because when we went it was unarmed, is a replica of the may flower, the first ship to reach Massachusetts with Puritan English settlers.

The best things to see in Marblehead

On the way to Salem from Boston, there is a town that we loved visiting: Marblehead.

We were lucky enough to experience the characteristic cloudy day of New England, with dense fog between enormous mansions where many of Boston's great fortunes live.

It is very curious to walk through streets with a succession of mansions with that typical American style, and be able to see them without problem, since it is not common for houses in this country to have their front gardens fenced.

In short, a place with a lot of charm that is well worth knowing.