Situated between New York and Washington, Philadelphia is unfairly overlooked, but that's what makes it a hidden gem. Philadelphia is often called the "city of small towns": when you get into the center, you will find it hard to believe that it is the fifth most populous city in the United States. It’s quieter, calmer, more hospitable, more soulful here, and locals affectionately call Philadelphia “Philly.” The scale and heterogeneous dynamics of the city are determined by the districts of which it is composed: each with exceptional aesthetics and atmosphere. It is difficult to lure here with words and pictures, the real beauty of Philly is revealed gradually. With our guide, you can take the first step towards mutual understanding with the city.

Guide contents:

The city has an international airport, Philadelphia International Airport, but flying from Minsk or any other European capital to Philadelphia is unreasonably expensive: a round-trip ticket will cost you more than $1,000. Tickets to New York turn out to be a more budget-friendly option: for example "UIA", Lot And Lufthansa They regularly offer options with departure from Minsk (round trip for just under $500). When flying from Moscow, you can save about $100 more. Even more attractive options can be found with Norwegian flying from the capitals of Northern Europe.

The road from New York to Philly takes 2.5-3 hours. The most popular bus carrier is Greyhound. Prices range from $10 to $18, and buses depart almost every hour from Port Authority Bus Terminal(625 8th Ave) and take you to Philadelphia Greyhound Terminal (1001 Filbert St) in the center: here you have Wi-Fi to call Uber, and the metro is a two-minute walk away. Carriers are also popular Boltbus And Megabus. Sometimes you can save a couple of dollars with them, but keep in mind that they drop you off at John F Kennedy Blvd & 30th St, which is further from the center, there is no Internet, and it takes longer to get to the metro.

There is also an option by train Amtrak, which departs once an hour from Penn Station in New York and takes you to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.

This is a faster, more comfortable and in some ways even more aesthetically pleasing option: the Art Deco-style station is decorated with massive columns, golden ornaments and impressive sculptures, one of which bears the very appropriate name - Spirit of Transportation - and occupies a huge a niche in the wall, which is more reminiscent of a museum hall than a station building. However, it will cost more: the cheapest train ticket from New York costs $48.

Philadelphia has a public transportation system SEPTA, which includes the metro, buses, trams and electric trains. A subway or bus ride costs $2.25. If you are going to travel outside the city, the price of the trip will increase depending on the zone.

Bicycles are very popular in Philadelphia and are a full-fledged form of transport. The city has a convenient system of bicycle paths, and car drivers are quite friendly and attentive to cyclists. The city has a bicycle rental system Indego, but their rates are not very affordable: renting a bike for half an hour will cost you $4.

Philadelphia is ideal for walking (which is not the case with most American cities). The center and main attractions are located quite densely and compactly, so it won’t be difficult for you to explore Philly on your own two feet.

What Philadelphia can certainly be praised for is its rising prices. This is not New York! In the city center you can easily find an Airbnb for $50 per night.

Renting a room on campus will cost $20. And this is generally a kosher option: next door is an American student for practice, next door to a university campus for an exciting walk, and then look, you can look into the university itself to find out about the conditions of admission for foreigners! Walking into a student party won't be too difficult either.

Philadelphia is not rich in hostels: there are only about five in the whole city. The average price is $20 per bed per night.

The Philadelphia House (17 North 2nd Street)- the most popular hostel in Philly. Located in the center, the price for a bed for the night will cost $20. The hostel has a 24-hour reception, a large shared kitchen (tea, coffee, cereal and toast for breakfast), a lounge area where all travelers hang out. If you come to Philadelphia by Greyhound, you can walk to the hostel in 10 minutes.

Next door to the hostel is Book Trader - an excellent bookstore on two floors with used books on any topic! There are many independent designer boutiques and galleries scattered nearby. On this same street, new exhibitions open every first Friday of the month, galleries open their doors and work for free until late, treat visitors to snacks and sometimes even alcohol, and live music often plays on the street.

City House Hostels: Old City Philly (325 Cherry Street). Another great option for lovers of fun companies and inexpensive accommodation is beds for $20, spartan conditions and wild parties in common areas in the evenings. Ideal if you come alone.

Apple Hostels of Philadelphia (32 South Bank Street) . All a backpacker needs is a bed in the city center at a good price, a large common area and kitchen, video games, laundry, free tea and coffee. Sometimes they can treat you to dinner. When ordering, please note: the price often does not include a 15% tax.

La Reserve Bed and Breakfast (1804 Pine Street). Beautiful period style rooms with fireplaces and 1880's tiles. A sumptuous breakfast is included in the room rate. For a double room you will pay $128, but it will be worth it.

Don't shy away from couchsurfing. Philly locals here are very friendly hippy liberals. Most will happily take you around the city and will make sure that you get the right insight not only into the city as a whole, but in particular into the area in which you are staying.

Philadelphia's main pride is its rich history by American standards. Philadelphia was the first capital of the United States. The locals will remind you of this more than once, they will proudly declare that Philly is the cradle of American democracy and will direct you to its main symbol - Liberty Bell(Liberty Bell) (6th St & Market St). Its ringing marked the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, you can only hear this ringing on a recording, because even during the life of George Washington (they say that right on his birthday) the bell cracked. Since then, they no longer call it, but cherish it like the apple of their eye, and even moved it from Independence Hall to a separate pavilion across the street.

Coffee in America is a real cult. An American can't imagine starting the morning without grabbing a cup of coffee on the way to work. The European tendency to see coffee as an excuse for communication and the opportunity to imposingly sip a drink from a glass container is gradually beginning to supplant the American style of drinking coffee on the go from disposable cups.

There are plenty of quirky, independent coffee shops to be found in every Philadelphia neighborhood. Let us repeat that Philly is an extremely liberal city, and even when buying coffee, a Philadelphia resident thinks about who will profit from his choice: a corporation like Starbucks or an independent coffee shop that is trying its best to resist competition.

Philadelphians are very proud of their local coffee brand, La Colombe. It is this that, as a gesture of patriotism, is brewed in most coffee shops in the city. The brand also has its own coffee shops, where you can try different types of coffee and buy a package of coffee as a gift for a coffee lover (they will immediately grind it for you for a drip machine, espresso or Turkish coffee).

The most impressive, also the largest in the city, coffee shop La Colombe located in Fishtown (1335 Frankford Ave). The inconspicuous red brick building does not stand out particularly from the row of warehouses located here. But once you get inside, you find yourself in a space that is amazing in its scale, where there is an oven and a stand for fresh pastries, a kitchen and even a laboratory for studying and inventing new varieties of coffee (by the way, La Colombe even has a special variety called Fishtown). Their baked goods are amazing: a sandwich on a crispy baguette or a bun will ideally complement an aromatic cup of coffee.

From a gastronomic point of view, Philadelphia is a recognized food tourism destination in the States. Go have dinner at Villa di Roma (936 S 9th St) and try their spaghetti and meatballs. The interiors are old-fashioned and not particularly sophisticated, but once you taste the homemade pasta, hot tomato sauce and three-meat meatballs, you won't care. One serving costs $15, but be sure that you will have more than enough of it and you won’t want to eat anymore that evening.

Nomad Pizza (611 S 7th St and 1305 Locust St) - a pizzeria adored by locals. Many will tell you that this is where they make the best pizza in the city. The place is truly unique: a huge brick oven with burning wood is located right in the dining room, and you can see with your own eyes how the pizzeria puts your Margherita in the oven.

The choice of salads is also no different: Caesar with dried kale and anchovies or salad with Roquefort cheese, pears, pecans and dried cranberries. For dessert there is pizza with Nuttella, bananas and hazelnuts or homemade tiramisu. Prices for pizza start at $13, salads around $10-12, wine $7-8, beer $6. If you want to save money, pay attention to happy hour: from 5-7 pm you can order a classic pizza for $10 , beer for $4, wine for $5.

Asian cuisine is the most inexpensive and satisfying option for dinner. Naturally, Philadelphia, being a multicultural city, would not be complete without Chinatown, and, of course, here you can find restaurants specializing in the cuisine of various regions of Asia.

A Japanese restaurant would be a win-win option. Terakawa Ramen on 204 North 9th street. Here, despite the cleanliness and interior design, you can have an inexpensive and tasty meal. The menu is based on traditional Japanese broth, which takes 2 days to prepare, and homemade egg noodles with various combinations of vegetables, mushrooms, meat and seafood. A large portion will cost you $9-10.

Bok bar(1901 South 9th Street) . South Philadelphia's unparalleled seasonal bar is located atop the Bok building, a massive eight-story former technical school. From the outside, the building even resembles something Soviet: its facade is decorated with scenes glorifying labor, but inside everything looks like a standard American school.

Enter the building through the central entrance and head to the elevator, where security will be waiting for you to check your ID. Make your way up to the 8th floor and prepare yourself for a view that will take your breath away: the expansive open rooftop overlooks all of Philadelphia. Buy a glass of beer ($5-6) or a glass of wine at the bar and sit back at one of the many tables or bar counters to admire the city. Try to come here shortly before sunset, because at this time there are not so many people here. The bar is open from May to September.

Not far away is another tasty piece of South Philadelphia - a miniature bar Fountain Porter (1601 S 10th St). Initially, it was a secret meeting place for local connoisseurs of vinyl and craft beer: the bar plays exclusively vinyl from the author’s record collection sitting on the window sill at the bar, and the prices for alcohol ($4-6) and snacks ($5) are surprising in their affordability. Of course, the place soon gained popularity and began to attract more people. Fortunately, this did not affect the special musical atmosphere of the bar and low prices.

Time (1315 Sansom St)- an incomparable bar-restaurant in the city center. Every evening, experts and novice musicians play live jazz here for free. The musical atmosphere is unique and attracts many people, making it very difficult to get a seat at a table or bar.

Prices for alcohol and snacks, as everywhere else, average $5 for beer, $7 for wine, $10 for a cocktail, snacks within $10. During happy hour, prices are a couple of dollars lower.

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N Front St)- underground bar in Fishtown. The location itself - on a street corner under a bridge - hints at the atmosphere of grunge and punk that reigns there. Here you can regularly hear experimental music from independent bands, such as psychedelic rock with folk elements from Japan.

A little life hack for those traveling to Philly in the summer: check the location of the seasonal beer gardens. This is a very cool project that local gardening partnerships help organize. They beautify open spaces and turn them into hippy spots where it's nice to have a drink on a warm summer evening.

Variety is the best word to describe shopping in America. Here you will be offered 500 options for every taste and budget, all you have to do is make a choice. Choice is another key word.

Lately it has become fashionable to do it deliberately. So, when choosing a new lipstick, a conscious American woman will choose a brand that does not test cosmetics on animals. When buying clothes, accessories, interior decorations, a true liberal and hippie will consciously want to bring profit to the designer, and not to a corporation that viciously exploits cheap labor in third world countries to create copied models. This ethical and noble approach to consumption is admirable, but be prepared that the price for a clear conscience may seem too high.

Market and Chestnut are considered to be the main shopping streets in Philadelphia. They are home to the famous department stores Macy's and Bloomingdale's, as well as many affordable brands like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters.

There are also shops like Century 21 (821 Market St), where you can buy designer items from old collections with 70-80% discounts.

If you like handmade things, then you can look into Ten Thousand Villages (1122 Walnut St). This is one of those places that is trying to take an alternative approach to international trade and support designers and artists from countries where their work is not properly compensated. When buying a piece of jewelry or decorative item, you will receive a card with the name and contact information of the person who created it and, among other things, you will be sure that most of the profit will go to him and not to the store.

If you want to bring an original souvenir from Philadelphia, you'll probably like it at South Fellini (1507 E Passyunk Ave) . This tiny shop specializes in T-shirts, pins, patches, bags and prints with in-jokes and offbeat Philadelphia symbols. For example, T-shirts with the inscription jawn, which is translated from local slang as « thing » or « thing » (in no other city in the USA will you hear such a word). An original souvenir would be a bag with the inscription Philadelphia versus the world or a patch with a portrait of Edgar Allan Poe, who, by luck, lived and worked in Philadelphia for several years.

Philadelphia has a whole network of affordable vintage shops Jinxed. There are only five of them and they are located in different parts of the city, so look at which one is closest to you. Posters, books, clothes, paintings, dishes, interior items, and cameras are sold here. All items are in good condition.

A great place to go shopping for vintage clothing, shoes and accessories is Retrospect (508 South St). Here you can grab a cool denim jacket, a decent pair of jeans for next to nothing, and still have some left over for a flannel shirt and a bohemian scarf.

A few steps from Retrospect is Philly Aids Thrift (710 S 5th St)- a real trashy two-story rift store, in which you need to dig hard to find something worthwhile, but if you do find it, you’ll pick it up for next to nothing. All items come to the store as donations for AIDS patients, and a certain percentage of sales goes directly to their treatment.

If you like all sorts of bohemian things, then you will definitely like it in Eye's Gallery (402 South St). The store belongs to the wife of the same artist who saved the street from demolition and ennobled it with his ceramic and glass mosaics. Decorating the front of the store was one of his first creative projects. The three-story store is more reminiscent of an exotic market and mainly specializes in handmade items, jewelry, and decorative arts from India and Latin America.

After walking a couple of blocks south, you will come across Moon+Arrow (754 S 4th St). Cool store with beautiful vintage clothing, handmade accessories made from natural materials and precious metals and various decorative items. The prices here are quite high, but reasonable.

Philadelphia is a paradise for music lovers and bookworms. If you are interested in literature, then immediately forget about stores like Barnes & Noble, where a new book costs on average $15-20: any reading Philadelphian will tell you that this is a robbery. Instead, go to used bookstores.

Mostly Books (529 Bainbridge St)- a huge space with books on any topic. Here you can spend hours moving from room to room, sorting through books. The prices are incredibly affordable, and you can walk out of here with classics of world literature, books on art, works of great philosophers and poets, and basically anything else without hurting your pocket.

There's an interesting bookstore a couple blocks from Mostly Books Wooden Shoe Books (704 South St). He is notable for his specialization in anarchist and radical literature. It exists as a non-profit organization and operates thanks to the activities of volunteers.

In the old town there is a two-story bookstore Book Trader (7 N 2nd St) with a very convenient classification of books and affordable prices. We advise you to think in advance about the authors you are interested in, otherwise you will simply get lost in the maze of bookshelves. There is also a separate room with records, and on the ground floor next to the art section there are stands with very nice postcards.

Off the coast of the Atlantic, on the coast of the Delaware River, lies one of the oldest cities in America - Philadelphia. It is located on the territory. Of the large cities located nearby - and. Philadelphia is an extraordinary city, a city of contrasts, within which completely different aspects of city life are presented - each quarter has its own character, its own unique flavor.

Philadelphia is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. In addition to the British and French, Italians and Jews, Chinese and Vietnamese live here. The city gained immense fame thanks to Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, ardent supporters and fighters for independence. Today it is quite a modern, historical, cultural and economic center. Within its boundaries there are a large number of attractions - theaters, museums, art galleries, natural parks, historical monuments, etc.

History of creation

The history of Philadelphia dates back to 1682. The city was built by one of the Protestant religious groups, led by the Englishman William Penn. Two years later, Philadelphia was filled with people of various faiths, mostly from Europe. Philadelphia received the honorary title of city only in 1701. And by the middle of the 18th century, it turned into a large developed center, part of the British Empire and immediately took an oppositional position in relation to it. It broke out soon and led to the liberation of the city. Most of it was destroyed. It took a long time to revive the city from ruins and give it its former splendor. For some time, Philadelphia was the main city of the newly emerging state. In the 19th century, New York came out on top in terms of economic development and became the new capital of the United States.

Independence National Wildlife Refuge

In the heart of Philadelphia lies the vast Independence National Wildlife Refuge. The complex includes several buildings where the first American government met during the birth of the new state. The center of the reserve is crowned by an ancient Georgian building - Independence Hall, which attracts attention with its original architecture. The Second Continental Congress met here in 1776 at Independence Hall. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin were also members of Congress. On July 4, under their leadership, an important historical document was signed - the Declaration of Independence, which gave freedom to several British colonies located in North America. And in 1787, the US Constitution was adopted in the same hall.

Nearby, the legendary Liberty Bell is on display for tourists. It is located in a large, beautiful pavilion resembling a glass dome.

Philadelphia Museums

Art lovers are advised to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Within its walls are collected unique works by American impressionists. Today, numerous exhibitions and vernissages are held here. The Philadelphia Museum of Literature, the former family nest of the famous American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe, is incredibly popular. The Rodin Museum deserves no less attention. Here you can admire the magnificent sculptures of the famous French master. The Franklin Institute is a kingdom of science, inside which there are several thematic halls telling about the latest electronic technologies, the mysteries of astronomy, electricity, geology, etc. In one of the halls there is a modern cinema.

Society Hill Quarter

Society Hill is a stunning residential neighborhood in Philadelphia. Walking along its wide picturesque streets, tourists have the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of the architecture of the 18th and 19th centuries. Smooth streets paved with gray stone, elegant red-brick houses, all this resembles a quiet, charming town, cozy and fairy-tale. High-rise buildings are quite rare, among them are the Society Hill Towers, which amaze with their unusual architecture.

Rittenhouse Square

Rittenhouse Square is a large beautiful square, surrounded by greenery and flowers, decorated with antique statues and a magnificent swimming pool. Part of the square is built up with modern skyscrapers. The other part is occupied by numerous museums, restaurants, cultural and shopping centers, art galleries, luxury hotels, theaters, etc.

Chinatown

Philadelphia's Chinatown is a place where the spirit of commerce reigns. The largest number of Chinese shops and markets are located here. Interestingly, not only Chinese emigrants live in Chinatown, but also immigrants from Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. The diversity of national cultures concentrated in one area gives this place a unique flavor.

Fairmount Park

Fairmount Park is one of the busiest places in the city. Modern cycling and walking paths, wonderful playgrounds, a charming natural park. In spring, everything around comes to life, birds chirping, people's laughter and cries are heard everywhere.

Philadelphia Festivals

When visiting Philadelphia during the New Year holidays, tourists will be able to attend a fun costume festival. The holiday is accompanied by a procession of mummers dressed in beautiful masquerade costumes. Art lovers will definitely enjoy the Minean Festival, which is more reminiscent of an art exhibition. Tourists will be able to admire the works of contemporary artists during the Performance Festival.

• An unusual law was passed in Philadelphia in 1701. In accordance with it, the city council was given the right to elect a new mayor annually. It is curious that the elected manager was not entitled to a salary; after learning about this clause, many refused the position.
• Philadelphia cream cheese was first made in New York State. It was named after the city of Philadelphia, since it was in this city that the highest quality products were produced during this period of time.

The first capital of the United States, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the broken Liberty Bell - these and other historical events took place in Philadelphia, a city where a huge number of historical places in the United States are concentrated, which are visited by about 3 million tourists every year.

State: Pennsylvania

Date of foundation: 1682

Population: 1,526,006 people

Nickname: City of Brotherly Love, Philly

Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers. Philadelphia is the state's largest city and the fifth largest in the United States.

Philadelphia is home to the largest freshwater port in the United States.

The city's fairly flat topography is more reminiscent of New Jersey and Delaware than the hilly Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia Photos

History of Philadelphia

The first European settlers in what is now Philadelphia were the Swedes, who settled here in the first half of the 17th century. In 1682, the Englishman William Penn bought part of the land from King Charles II, on which he founded a new city, attracting immigrants from England with religious freedom guaranteed by Penn, an ardent opponent of the dictatorship established by the Church of England.

Why is Philadelphia called the city of brotherly love?

The founder of Philadelphia, William Penn, professed the idea of ​​brotherly love between fellow believers; the poet named the city Philadelphia, which translated from Greek means “City of Brotherly Love.”

In the 18th century, thanks to its large freshwater port and fertile agricultural lands, Philadelphia became a leading city among the 13 British colonies. Philadelphia's wealth was reflected in the architecture of the city's cultural institutions and the homes of local residents. The first hospital in the then-unformed United States was opened in Philadelphia in 1755. The city's most famous son, Benjamin Franklin, was directly involved in the opening of the medical facility. Franklin also helped found the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Free Library, and the American Philosophical Society.

After the end of the Revolutionary War, Philadelphia became the site of the drafting and signing of the United States Constitution. The city also served as the capital of the new state until this title was transferred to Washington in the 1790s.

In the 1820s and 30s, a seaport and convenient railroad connections made Philadelphia one of the country's main financial centers. Despite the fact that the title of capital was transferred to Washington, Philadelphia remained the national center for minting money, a leading city in shipbuilding and weapons production.

In 1876, the first fair in the United States of America was held in Philadelphia, where the telephone was presented. In 1878, the first building equipped with electric lighting was introduced in Philadelphia.

During World War I, the city was home to the largest shipyard in the world. Population growth continued at a rapid pace; between 1900 and 1930, the city's population doubled, from one million inhabitants to two. However, with the onset of the Great Depression of the 1930s, Philadelphia's dominance as a manufacturing center came to an end.

At the end of the 20th century, Philadelphia was considered one of the safest major cities in the United States. In 1995, there were 1,436 crimes recorded per 100,000 people, of which 28 were murders, 51 were rapes, 889 were robberies and 468 were thefts.

Economy of Philadelphia

Today, the leading industries in Philadelphia are advertising production and financial services. The healthcare sector and tourism can also be considered the main sources of income for the city. Tourism development in Philadelphia brings good profits due to the large number of historical sites and attractions. More than 3 million tourists come here every year, bAs a result, additional jobs were created in Philadelphia in the service and retail sectors.

Education in Philadelphia.

The first school in the United States was opened in Philadelphia (1698). Today, the city is home to more than 20 universities. The most famous of these is the University of Pennsylvania, which is part of the private Ivy League colleges, opened in 1740. The first medical school in the United States (1765), a law school (1790) and a business school (1881) were opened at the university.

Sports in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is represented by teams participating in all major US sports tournaments: Philadelphia Flyers - NHL, Philadelphia 76ers - NBA, Philadelphia Union - MLS (soccer), Philadelphia Phillips - MLB (baseball), Philadelphia Eagles - NFL (American football).

Parks and Recreation in Philadelphia

Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped park in the United States. The area of ​​the park is more than 3602 hectares. In addition to 161 km of trails for walking, running and cycling, the park is home to many historical and cultural attractions, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Zoo (the oldest in the United States), Japanese gardens, sculptures, etc. In the summer, the Philadelphia Orchestra performs in the park. Park visitors can rent canoes to explore the Schuylkill River, which divides the park into east and west sections. Golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools and much more are available to Fairmount Park guests.

Philadelphia Libraries and Museums

More than six million books are available at the Philadelphia Free Library.

Philadelphia is home to various historical sites and museums. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is considered one of the best art museums in the United States. The museum's collection includes exhibits from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Independence Hall (the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed) is Philadelphia's most famous historical landmark. Nearby are the neighborhoods that housed the U.S. Congress and Supreme Court in the 1790s, when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States.

Another important historical site in Philadelphia is the Gloria Dei Church. Built in 1700 by Swedish colonists, this church is the oldest in Pennsylvania.

Poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe's home, now a museum, is also in Philadelphia.

More than three million tourists visit Philadelphia every year. Come and visit this wonderful city.

Welcome to the United States of America!

Full title: Philadelphia
State:
Year of foundation: 1682
Population (with surrounding area): 5.8 million people
Square: 370 sq. km.

One of the largest cities in the USA, Philadelphia, is the state capital. In 2008, Philadelphia ranked sixth among major cities in terms of population; three years ago, the number of residents of this largest city was about 1.5 million people. Together with the suburban areas, the population of the capital of Pennsylvania was about 5.8 million people. Among all US agglomerations, this is in fifth place.

Philadelphia is located 45 miles southwest of New York, in the eastern part of the United States. On the other side of the Delaware River is the city of Camden, which is part of Greater Philadelphia.

Philadelphia has a very powerful economy, the main areas of which are food industry, industrial production, finance, oil refining, tourism, and healthcare. Philadelphia is considered the center of law, as it is home to many specialized educational institutions and other institutions.

Philadelphia is the cradle of American independence, as this city once became the capital of the rebellious British colonies. The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, and subsequently the Constitution of the United States was adopted here. Therefore, all the main attractions of the capital of Pennsylvania are concentrated in the historical part of Philadelphia.

The climate of this city can be called subtropical oceanic, in which the seasons are clearly defined. Summer is accompanied by hot and stuffy weather, winter by cold weather, spring and summer are characterized by comparative mildness. The average air temperature in July is 25 and sometimes 35 degrees. The summer period is difficult for city residents to endure due to high air humidity.

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Philadelphia is the sixth largest city in the United States and the most populous city in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia is also called Philly, as well as “The City of Brotherly Love”.

Philadelphia city map

Population

The population of Philadelphia as of 2008 is more than 1.5 million residents. Taking into account the suburbs, the number of residents increases to 5.8 million.

Philadelphia is located in the eastern part of the United States. The closest city in the Philadelphia metropolitan area is Camden (population 80,000, New Jersey), which is on the other side of the Delaware River. According to data provided for 2007, 43% of Philadelphia residents are white, 44% are African American, and 5% are from Asian countries.

Philadelphia is a fairly multi-ethnic city. About 23% of the population lives below the poverty line (by American standards). In terms of crime in 2008, Philadelphia ranked 22nd among all US cities, while Camden ranked second.

Climate

Philadelphia's climate is humid continental, but the city is in close proximity to a humid subtropical climate. Philadelphia's climate is characterized by pronounced seasonality. Summers are warm and even hot, winters are moderately cold.

The average temperature of the hottest summer month is 25 °C, but there are days when the temperature is very high, and combined with high humidity, the heat is difficult to bear. The average temperature in January is about 0 °C, although sometimes frosts down to -10 °C occur in winter. The amount of precipitation in the form of snow varies from year to year.

Economy

Philadelphia has a developed and modern economy. The region's main industries are heavy industry, oil refining, food and textile production, tourism and healthcare. In addition, Philadelphia is considered a national center of jurisprudence, since it is here that a large number of specialized educational institutions and institutions are concentrated.

As of 2005, the Philadelphia region's combined gross domestic product is equivalent to more than $312 billion, ranking third in the United States behind New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Philadelphia ranks second in oil refining in the United States.

Role in history and landmarks

Philadelphia has always played an important role in the history of the United States of America, and from 1790 to 1800. was their first capital. It was here that American independence was born at one time, since Philadelphia was the largest city among the thirteen rebellious English colonies. And it was Philadelphia that became the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and later, in 1787, the US Constitution was adopted.

These events took place in the two-story building Independence Hall, which became the most significant landmark in Philadelphia. Next to Independence Hall in a special pavilion is the Liberty Bell, symbolizing the independence of the United States. Nearby is also the Congressional Hall, where the Bill of Rights was signed.

The historic part of Philadelphia is located between the Delaware River and downtown. This is a very pleasant place to walk: quiet narrow streets with low-rise brick buildings interspersed with green spaces and parks. Among these streets are such attractions as the Betsy Ross House Museum, the Church of Christ and the Old Joseph Church, the Second Bank of the United States.

Not far from the historic part of the city on the banks of the Delaware River is Penn's Landing, the landing site of the city's founder, William Penn, in 1682. The embankment, which offers beautiful views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, is a wonderful place for walking and relaxing in good weather. There is a maritime museum here, where the cruiser Olympia and the submarine Bekun are available for visiting.

Downtown Philadelphia, together with the historical part, forms the city center, bounded on the east by the Delaware River and on the west by the Schukel River. Philadelphia's other main neighborhoods are North, West, Northwest, South, and Southwest.

The first department store in the United States, Wanamaker's is Philadelphia's most popular meeting place. Fairmount Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world. The country's oldest zoo, founded in 1874, is located on its territory.

The tallest skyscrapers downtown are Comcast Center (297 meters), One Liberty Place (288 meters), and TwoLiberty Place (258 meters). Among the skyscrapers are such architectural masterpieces as the Philadelphia City Hall and the Masonic Temple.

If you walk from City Hall through Love Park, you can get to the Logan Square open area. And if you go straight from there, you can go to the grandiose Museum of Art. Its steps offer a beautiful panorama of Philadelphia. The 72 stone steps that lead to the Museum of Art are called the Rocky Steps. Rocky Balboa from the Sylvester Stallone movie trained for his fight by running up these steps. This character became so beloved that a bronze statue was installed next to the Museum of Art, which is very popular among tourists.

Somewhat south of the center there is a huge sports complex (South Philadelphia Sport Complex). It includes 3 large sports arenas in which Philadelphia's professional sports league teams play: the Philadelphia Eagles (American football), Philadelphia Union (European football), Philadelphia Philies (baseball), Philadelphia Flyers (hockey) and Philadelphia 76ers (basketball).