Manhattan is New York City's smallest borough but the word "smallest" is a very relative term: it has more attractions and inhabitants than many small countries. Let us take you to "the island of many hills".
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href="https://www.poandpo.com/s1110/manhattan_from_air_v.jpg" rel="lightbox">When Lenape tribe named the island on the Hudson river Manna-hata, the island of many hills, they never dreamed that it will become "the island of many attractions" and "the island of many tourists". In the heart of the Big Apple, on 60 square kilometres, you can find so many attractions that you can enjoy for years. No wonder that Manhattan's skyline is the symbol of New York and the American way of life, seen so many times in the movies that people tend to forget that it's just one part of the city that never sleeps.
In the middle of Manhattan there is a legendary Central Park. Designed between 1858 and 1873, the park the spreads on 340 hectares is a great tourist destination in any time of year. It is full of gardens, rolling meadows, arches, sculptures, and it's most iconic part is Conservatory Garden.
It is divided in three parts, French, Italian, and English, each with its beautiful distinctive style but Italian garden is a bit more lovely and it's the beloved place for taking a wedding photo. From walking to a live concert to a picnic with friends, Central Park is the best place on Manhattan for outdoor activity.
If you stroll down the Park Avenue and come to the Flatiron District, you'll see many places with great shopping opportunities. The Flatiron Building, a wonderful skyscraper from 1902 at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, is the landmark of the city block with the best design, photography and clothing stores Manhattan has to offer.
But, don't go away after the shopping: this neighbourhood comes to life when the night falls down and thousands of people occupy clubs, cabarets, and restaurants, each with its own distinct flavour and definition what's "in". No matter what's your style, you'll find the right club just for you.
If you ask your American host where you can find the spirit of Europe, you'll hear "Go NoLIta". Since Americans obviously don't like any longer word, this is also abbreviation meaning "north of Little Italy". With cheap rents, this neighbourhood is ideal for all artists and people who don't like the speedy business style of living. Here you can drink a cup of great coffee, read newspapers with a hot croissant at a bookstore, explore the narrow streets searching for a great clothing labels and galleries, or just sit down and enjoy a bottle of the fine European wine.
NoLIta was a violent place once, but those days are long gone and now it's one of the calmest places in New York.
At the southern part of the island, a few streets from NoLIta, you will find Chinatown and when you dive in you'll have no idea that are in the USA. Chatham Square is the heart of that neighbourhood with a great symbolism: it lies at the intersection of seven streets which symbolizes the mix of different cultures.
For some the statue of Lin Zexu, legendary Chinese warrior, is the most interesting thing in China Town, but for millions of other people Chinese food is the reason to visit this vibrant, colourful, strange but warm part of the city. And don't worry if you don't understand a thing, just follow your nose and you can't miss.
Our journey ends at the southeast tip of Manhattan, in the Financial District. Don't be scared, this neighbourhood is not just for hard brokers. This is the place where the settlement of New Amsterdam, today's New York, was founded in 1613. Financial District saw many "first": the first US president, the first bank, the first great fire and the first terrorist attack. This is the place of the famous Wall Street (no, Exchange is not here, that's a myth), but also a place with shops for those who don't care about money, fancy restaurants and bars, the best lobsters in the whole city, and fashion boutiques to die for.
We touched just a glimpse of this fascinating island with many hills. It would be wise to arrange a longer staying here because Manhattan has many more things to see and experience. From SoHo, the capital of the art world, to TriBeCa with great eateries, to Upper East Side with many museums (and fantastic sushi), to Upper West Side which is the home of the grand opera, dance and orchestral productions. One thing is for sure: such mix of different cultures at one place you won't find anywhere in the world and the only thing that Manhattan misses is you. ■
