6 US cities that feel like Europe without a long journey flight
Across the United States, a handful of towns strongly resemble those found in Europe, with quaint village squares and culturally rooted cuisine.
“Many U.S. towns were intentionally designed and inspired by European architecture, culture, and traditions, whether that’s Bavarian alpine villages, Swiss-inspired mountain towns, or Southern cities with cathedral-lined squares,” said Fiorella Yriberry, a marketing manager at RVshare. “Once you’re there, the cobblestone streets, local bakeries, historic buildings, and festivals make the experience feel immersive rather than themed.” Boston, Massachusetts. While Boston is deeply tied to U.S. history, a fleet of English immigrants founded the city in 1630, modeling it after their former home. “The town’s earliest homes, meeting houses, public buildings, and public streets reflected those found in London and other old English cities,” says Susan Wilson, the Omni Parker House historian.
Beacon Hill Boston
Image Credit: joe daniel price / Getty Images
The best place to admire that likeness, says Wilson, is in Beacon Hill. “Beacon Hill, topped by the gold-domed State House and developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries, features narrow, picturesque streets and alleys, Federal-style row houses, wrought iron railings, ornate doorways, fan lights, and real gas lamps. It is often compared to old London, especially in the section known as Louisburg Square,” says Wilson. Later years brought additional European immigrants who also left their own visible mark on Boston. “If you wander down Commonwealth Avenue in the area known as Back Bay, you feel as if you have entered Paris,” says Wilson. Italy, meanwhile, awaits in the North End. “The narrow streets of this compact historic neighborhood are still filled with an endless array of old-world cafés, pasta restaurants, pastry shops, and summer festivals, maintaining the area’s pride as Boston’s 'Little Italy.
No comments