Sightseeing in Philadelphia - what to see. Complete travel guide

This city is a large metropolis, a financial, industrial and cultural center of the United States. Wide choice of attractions, numerous entertainments and friendly atmosphere make this city a popular tourist area.

Particular attention should be paid to the historical monuments of Philadelphia. Independence Hall is by far the most popular sight of the city. In the end of the 18th century this hall became the witness of two important events. In 1776 here was proclaimed the Declaration of Independence, and in 1787 the hall became the place of the U.S. Constitution adoption. One of the hall’s pavilions still carefully keeps Liberty Bell, the ringing of which in 1776 marked the acceptance of the declaration. Besides administrative buildings you will find here several important religious sites - Church of Christ and Church of Joseph. This architectural complex is surrounded by a large park. Walk along it and you will visit a wonderful portrait gallery and see one of the largest U.S. banks. This quarter, which is surrounded by numerous alleys, plazas and a park, is considered the historical center of Philadelphia.

Elforta alley is another attractive place for walks. Here you will find 30 historic houses built in the 18th - 19th centuries. The old station is also located here. The station looks exactly the same as it has looked during the years of the Great Depression. Among other notable buildings of the city we should definitely mention Powell House, which has been turned into a museum. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Shoppers should definitely visit Italian market and Wanamaker's supermarket - the oldest one in the country. In this city you will find several dozens of museums, the most unusual of which is surely Mutter Museum of Medical History devoted to collections of medical equipment and biological exhibits. Tourists can also learn more about the history of the city in Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

The building of the old Town Hall is a special architectural monument for the city. It was erected at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. From the moment of its construction, the Town Hall is one of the highest buildings in the city. Its main architectural feature is a high tower. The 11-meter statue of William Penn adorns its top. Nowadays, an amazing historical building is considered a monument of national importance.

Amateurs of unusual excursions will be interested in visiting the Eastern State Prison, which was founded in 1829 and worked until 1969. Many world-known criminals were kept in prison cells. Following the closure of the prison, its corps have been neglected for a long time. In 1994, they decided to convert them into a thematic museum. Visitors can see a lot of interesting artifacts and even visit the cell Al Capone was serving his sentence in 1929.

One more world-famous attraction of Philadelphia is an original house, called the Magic Gardens. The author of the unusual construction is a famous avant-garde artist I. Zagar. He built an extraordinary house with a unique design. It is a complex maze of numerous terraces, staircases, and grottoes. All the walls have a unique finish. They are totally covered with a variety of finishing elements: tiles, items of old dishes, wooden accessories, old toys, and other household items. You can see hundreds of accessories decorating them.

The Art Museum of Philadelphia enjoys popularity among lovers of art. Its opening took place as early as 1876. The museum was opened on the occasion of the World Exhibition in the city. Today, the collection of the museum has more than 200000 exhibits. Here, you'll see works of art brought from various continents. A small research center operates lately within the walls of the museum.

Elfret is considered the most beautiful street in Philadelphia. It is the oldest one in the United States. It started developing in 1728. Presently, there dominate constructions, built in the first half of the 19th century. The street is full of beautiful historic buildings. One can also admire the building of the old station.