Stretched between the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers, just across from Camden, New Jersey, Philadelphia is the largest city in
Pennsylvania and the
sixth largest city in the
USA.
History lurks around every corner in Philadelphia. This is the birthplace of the United States and the nation's
original capital from 1790 to 1800. In one of the great experiments of the British colonies, it was founded in 1682, by the
English Quaker William Penn, who envisioned the settlement as a land of
tolerance and
religious freedom. Many colonists
fleeing persecution flocked to it. Penn named the town after the Greek word for
'brotherly love'.
Philadelphia's most important sights are preserved in Downtown's picturesque Independence National Historical Park, including the
Liberty Bell,
Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and the
Constitution Center, honoring the US Constitution.
Colonial Philadelphia was also home to the great statesman,
Benjamin Franklin, founder of the country's first hospital, library, fire company and university. He is easily the city's favorite native son, with some fascinating exhibits dedicated to him.
Besides its iconic historical sights,
'Philly', as natives refer to it, also has a vibrant
arts scene, with a
renowned orchestra,
world-class museums and some fantastic
restaurants. The
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is the city's crown jewel, though Philadelphia is also home to art house cinemas, forward-leaning galleries and traditional and avant-garde theater.
Over 100
multi-ethnic neighborhoods have created a colorful tapestry of the urban setting, from the bustling Italian
market to African-American
festivals, from blues and jazz clubs to the traditional
Amish community who sell produce and foodstuffs in Reading Terminal Market.
Philadelphia is also the
gateway for those traveling west into
Pennsylvania Dutch Country, north to the ski resorts of the Pocono Mountains and southeast to the Delaware Peninsula and Atlantic Seaboard beaches.
Thanks to William Penn, a logical
grid pattern for the streets makes Philadelphia easy to navigate. The downtown area is known as
Center City. Main thoroughfares of Market Street, running east-west, and Broad Street, running north-south, meet at the central hub of
City Hall and form four quadrants around City Hall.
Regions include the
Parkway Museums,
Convention Center,
Washington Square and
Rittenhouse Square districts.
Old City and
Society Hill/Waterfront are Philadelphia's oldest areas.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Philadelphia Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Pennsylvania Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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