The Parisian newspaper "Le Monde" has defined it as the most beautiful city in America, others haven't taken up a stronger stance, calling it just "the best city in the south" or "one of the friendliest cities in the world" . What is certain is that the sophisticated and sometimes snobby Savannah is not a city like any other. Savannah is made of history, Savannah is made of elegant houses and impeccable squares, Savannah is unquestionably another of those places where many Americans (and not only americans!) would like to spend their life. The hooves of the horses that take you through the moss draped squares of this beautiful city, tell the time and the homes of the aristocrats of the old Savannah make sure that you're really traveling through time.
Qui si torna indietro di quasi 200 anni, in quella che per sette anni (dal 1736 al 1743) è stata anche la capitale della Georgia e che ancora oggi con il suo fascino è capace di attrarre un numero spropositato di turisti in relazione alla posizione geografica (è lontano dalle altre città "che contano") e soprattutto al fatto che non sempre viene considerata meta prediletta dal turista europeo.
Obviously, when you go 200 years back in the past, it means you're experiencing a city made of history. Savannah has been Georrgia's capital for seven years (from 1736 to 1743) and even today with its charm is able to attract a disproportionate number of tourists from all over the world, in relation to the geographical position (it is far from the other major east coast-cities) and above all to the fact that it is not always considered a favorite destination by the European tourist.
Il tour di un giorno a Savannah, rigorosamente a piedi, comincia da nord, a ridosso del fiume Savannah. Di fronte c'è l'isolotto di Hutchinson Island e, più in là ancora, c'è il South Carolina. Siamo a 2 E Broad Street, dopo aver lasciato il "Savannah Belles Ferry", uno dei tanti mezzi che la città offre gratuitamente per spostarsi all'interno della stessa. Il Savannah Belles Ferry altro non fa che percorrere avanti e indietro il fiume Savannah, permettendo al turista ed ai locali di effettuare anche una sosta a Hutchinson Island, una sorta di triangolo che come punti di riferimento ha "The Waving Girl", la "Georgia Queen" e l'hotel The Westin, situato proprio sull'isolotto. Probabilmente il modo migliore per prendere confidenza con Savannah è proprio questo, ammirarla da lontano...
The one-day trip to Savannah, strictly by walk, begins from the north, close to the Savannah River. On the opposite side you can see Hutchinson Island and, further on, it's... South Carolina. This is 2 E Broad Street, we've just got of the "Savannah Belles Ferry", one of the many means of transport that the city offers (for free) to locals and tourists. The Savannah Belles Ferry does nothing but than travel back and forth across the Savannah River, allowing tourists and locals to even get off also at Hutchinson Island: that's a sort of triangle where "The Waving Girl", the "Georgia" Queen "and The Westin hotel (located right on the island) are the reference points. Probably the best way to get familiar with Savannah is just that, admiring it from afar ...
(Savannah Belles Ferry)
Noi però, come vi abbiamo già accennato, il tour di un giorno di Savannah lo cominciamo da 2 E Broad Street e percorreremo l'intero lungo fiume sino a raggiungere il Talmadge Memorial Bridge. Storia ed attualità qui convivono meravigliosamente e gli antichi locali ora sono stati riconvertiti in negozi d'antiquariato, moltissime gallerie d'arte, ristoranti, pub e shops del tutto particolari. Ma la passeggiata, piacevolissima, lungo le strade in ciottolato, non può prescindere da un paio di stop in due dei luoghi simbolo di Savannah.
However, as we have already mentioned, the Savannah day tour starts at 2 E Broad Street. We're about to walk along the entire River Street till reaching the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. History and modernity coexist wonderfully, the old rooms have now converted into antique shops, many art galleries, restaurants, pubs and shops. The very pleasant walk along the cobbled streets, can not ignore a couple of stops in two of the major Savannah's landmarks.
Due statue, la prima delle quali (Savannah's African-American Monument) raffigurante quattro persone di colore e dedicata al movimento afro americano, e la seconda, che è un tuffo nella storia e nella leggenda della città. "The Waving Girl", la ragazza che sventola. La statua rappresenta la storia d'amore tra la giovane Florence Martus ed un marinaio. Florence mantenne fede alla promessa che fece ("aspetterò il tuo ritorno, ogni giorno, qui") e dal 1887 al 1931 salutò ogni singola passaggio delle navi che attraversavano il fiume Savannah. Florence morì nel 1943 senza aver mai più rivisto il suo grande amore. La statua raffigura lei che sventola un fazzoletto in segno di saluto, con al suo fianco il suo cane, un collie.
Two statues, the first of which (Savannah's African-American Monument) depicts four colored people and honors the contributions of its black citizens to its history, economy and culture, and acknowledges the city’s role in the institution of slavery. It represents an important step forward in the inclusion of slavery and the black experience in Savannah’s public monuments, and a reminder of the many contributions made by the enslaved people by whom much of Savannah, literally and figuratively, was built. The second one is a dip into the history and legend of the city: "The Waving Girl". The statue represents the love story between the young Florence Martus and a sailor. Florence honoured the promise she made ("I will wait for your return, every day, here") and from 1887 to 1931 she waved at passing sailors. Florence died in 1943 without having seen her great love again. The statue shows her waving a handkerchief, with her dog, a collie, at her side.
Sempre lungo River Street, la "Georgia Queen" e la Dolphin Magic offrono rispettivamente tour su un battello a vapore e tour narrati con la possibilità di avvistare delfini (da marzo a novembre). A metà di River Street incrocerete anche il City Hall, il municipio (2 E.Bay St.), ha un’imponente cupola in rame con foglie dorate ed è chiaramente visibile anche dall’area del fiume. Questo edificio del 1906, in stile revival rinascimentale, si può visitare su prenotazione con tour gratuiti.
Still along River Street, The "Georgia Queen" and the Dolphin Magic respectively offer steamboat tours and narrated tours with the possibility to spot dolphins (from March to November). Halfway across River Street you will also see the City Hall (2 E.Bay St.) with its imposing copper dome with golden leaves. This 1906 building, in Renaissance revival style, can be visited by appointment with free tours.
Savannah possiede uno dei più grandi quartieri storici degli Stati Uniti, che oggi costituisce il cuore commerciale della città. Downtown Historic District (delimitato da E.Bryan St., Montgomery St., E.Broad St., Park Ave.) è il più esteso degli Stati Uniti e se non voleste percorrerlo interamente, salite gratuitamente sul "bus dot", il bus che attraversa la città fermandosi nei punti più strategici, ed immergetevi nelle vie di Savannah. La nostra visita dell'Historic Distric parte proprio dal cuore, da
City Market (219 W. Bryan St.), definito “the heart and soul of Savannah” (il cuore e l’anima di Savannah). Negozi, locali e musica raffigurano al meglio la "via dei colori" di Savannah, situata nel versante nord ovest del downtown della città.
Savannah has one of the largest Downtown Historic District (bounded by E.Bryan St., Montgomery St., E.Broad St., Park Ave.) in the United States, which today is the commercial heart of the city. If you do not want to walk, get on the bus called "dot" (free of charge), which crosses the city stopping at the most strategic points, and immerse yourself in the streets of Savannah. Our visit to the Historic Distric starts right from the heart, the City Market (219 W. Bryan St.), called "the heart and soul of Savannah" . Shops, clubs and music best portray Savannah's "color trail", located on the northwest side of the city's downtown area.
Da qui in poi potrete scegliere come muovervi a vostro piacimento. Già, perchè la particolarità di Savannah è che non ci si può perdere. Il motivo? Savannah è "famosa" anche per un qualcosa di davvero inusuale quando si parla degli Stati Uniti, ovvero le sue piazze disposte lungo strade parallele e geometricamente posizionate. Non è davvero difficile seguirle. Fu Mr Oglethorpe, il generale fondatore della Georgia e di Savannah, a progettarne la costruzione: 22 aree verdi di forma squadrata in modo tale che ogni casa posizionata ai lati beneficiasse di una sorta di parco. Per questo motivo non esiste un percorso perfetto, ma tante possibili varianti che abbiamo come riferimento le 22 piazze.
Now you can choose how to visit Savannah at your leisure. That's because the peculiarity of the city is that you can not get lost. The reason? Savannah is also "famous" for something really unusual when it comes to the United States: its squares arranged along parallel streets and geometrically positioned. It is not really difficult to follow them. It was Mr. Oglethorpe, the general founder of Georgia and Savannah, who planned its construction: 22 squared-shaped green areas that let each house on the sides got a sort of park. For this reason there is no perfect path to follow, but many possible variations that have as a reference the 22 squares.
La più famosa è sicuramente Chippewa Square, che ricorda la battaglia di Chippewa del 1812. Se è la più conosciuta in città tuttavia, è anche e soprattutto perchè Forrest Gump è passato proprio da qui. In questa piazza, infatti, è stata girata la scena in cui Forrest, il protagonista del film, è seduto sulla panchina in attesa dell'autobus (angolo di W.Hull St. e Bull St.). Tutto è sostanzialmente uguale a quello che si vede nella pellicola, manca solo la panchina che fu appositamente posizionata per girare la scena.
The most famous square is definitely Chippewa Square, which recalls the battle of Chippewa (1812). It is the best known in the city also and above all because Forrest Gump came through here. The scene in which Forrest is sitting on the bench waiting for the bus (corner of W.Hull St. and Bull St.) was shot in this square. Everything is basically the same as what you see in the movie, except the bench. It was specially positioned to shoot the scene.
Tra le altre piazze da non perdere ci sono sicuramente Oglethorpe Square, sulla quale si affaccia la Owens-Thomas House, una villa in stile Regency del 1800, Johnson Square, con fontane, la chiesa First Church e il monumento del generale Greene, Orleans Square, con la sua fontana e le sue maestose case del periodo antebellum, Lafayette Square e Thomas Square: qui si trova anche il Thomas Square Streetcar district dove un tempo passava la linea del tram prima del boom automobilistico.
Among the other must-see squares, there's Oglethorpe Square, overlooked by the Owens-Thomas House, a 19th-century Regency-style villa, Johnson Square, with fountains, the First Church and General Greene's monument, Orleans Square , with its fountain and its majestic antebellum houses, Lafayette Square and Thomas Square.
Troup Square deserves a special mention. Well, not just for the astronomical instrument called Armillary Sphere, a spherical frame composed of rings and positioned in the middle of the square. In Troup Square stands, in fact, the church (Unitarian Universalist Church) in which James Lord Pierpont was once musical director. Who is James Pierpont? Not everyone knows him but, between war battles (yes, he was a fighter for the Southern army) he wrote here in Savannah one of the most famous songs of all time. Its name is Jingle Bells.
(Unitarian Universalist Church)
Il tour dell'historic district termina in Lafayette Square, dove sorge la cattedrale di St. John the Baptist (222 E.Harris St.), un esempio di architettura gotica francese. E' la chiesa madre cattolica della diocesi di Savannah.
The tour of the historic district ends in Lafayette Square, home to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (222 E.Harris St.), an example of French Gothic architecture. It's the Catholic mother church of the diocese of Savannah.
A sud ovest, confinante naturalmente con l'Historic District, sorge un altro quartiere altrettanto affascinante, quello "vittoriano", il Victorian Historic District, delimitato da Gwinnett St., Anderson Lane, E. Broad St. e Martin Luther King Blvd. E' un quartiere prevalentemente residenziale e la casa più "famosa" è sicuramente la Gingerbread House (1921 Bull St). L'edificio del 1899 è riconoscibile per i suoi archi in stile gingerbread.
To the south west, bordering with the Historic District, there's nother equally fascinating district, the "Victorian Historic district", bounded by Gwinnett St., Anderson Lane, E. Broad St. and Martin Luther King Blvd. It is a predominantly residential neighborhood and the most "famous" house is definitely the Gingerbread House (1921 Bull St). The 1899 building is recognizable by its gingerbread-style arches.
The other buildings not to be missed during a day visit to Savannah are the Olde Pink House, the elegant mansion that now houses a renowned restaurant of traditional southern specialties, the nearby Davenport House and the Mercer Williams House, the residence of Jim Williams, a well-known art merchant from Savannah whose story is told in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".
(The Olde Pink House)
The green lung of the city is the Forsyth park (Drayton St. and Gaston St.) named in honor of the 33rd governor of Georgia, John Forsyth. Between huge oaks and playgrounds, tennis and basketball courts and nature trails, the park is truly an oasis for Savannah residents, especially in the hot summer months. The park hosts events such as the Movie in the park and the Jazz Festival, as well as the Farmer's market (Saturday). When visiting Savannah though, you can'r really miss its two main cemeteries. After all, we are talking about one of the most haunted cities in North America and, daily, guided tours are offered. In the heart of the Historic District, there's the Colonial Park Cemetery, which is during the day a special destination for those who want to visit the graves of historical figures and famous artists of Savannah, and in the evening a place of worship for ... ghost hunters! The many ghost tours are literally besieged by tourists, who can visit not only the cemetery but also other haunted places.
(Colonial Park Cemetery)
The Bonaventure Cemetery is definitely more impressive. It's located four miles east of the city and it's one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the entire United States. It can be easily accessed by car or you can take a guided tour, whose ticket can be purchased at the visitor center located a few hundred meters before entering the cemetery. The huge trees with their the spanish moss are one of the photographic symbols of the entire city of Savannah.
(Bonaventure Cemetery)
Tra i personaggi famosi sepolti all'interno dell'enorme cimitero ricordiamo Johnny Mercer, 19 Academy Award Nominations, 4 Oscar e soprattutto fondatore della Capitol Records e, soprattutto la piccola Gracie Watson, che di fatto ha messo sulle mappe il Bonaventure Cemetery (in questo link la sua storia: http://discoverhistoricamericatours.com/savannah/historic-people/little-gracie/. Su di lei è stato scritto anche un libro). Si dice che in una città dove “ci sono molti fantasmi”, il suo aleggi proprio qui...
Among the famous people buried inside the huge cemetery there's Johnny Mercer, 19 Academy Award Nominations, 4 Oscars and above all the founder of Capitol Records and, especially the little Gracie Watson, who actually made the Bonaventure Cemetery famous (in this link you'll find out her story: http://discoverhistoricamericatours.com/savannah/historic-people/little-gracie/. A book was also written about her). It is said that in a city where "there are many ghosts", her spririt is gliding right here ...
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(The Confederate House)
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