Philadelphia (or Philly) is known as the City of Brotherly Love from the literal meaning of the city’s name in Greek: Philos (beloved, dear or loving) and adelphós (brother, brotherly).
A Walkable City
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn who envisioned the grid of streets that comprise Philadelphia’s downtown (Center City). Two rivers, the Delaware and the Schuylkill, form the east-west boundaries of Center City; Vine Street and South Street form the north-south boundaries.
I greatly appreciate Philadelphia’s walkable downtown and the grid layout of streets. I live a car-free lifestyle at home and love walkable cities when I travel. The 2023 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards announced that Philadelphia has been named the Most Walkable City in the U.S.
There are 26 blocks from the Delaware River to the Schuylkill River, a distance of approximately 4 km or 2.5 miles. This means you can walk from one end of Center City Philly to the other in just 50 minutes. However, why rush when you are on holiday?
Sightseeing
I took time to visit and enjoy many historic and artistic sights in Philadelphia’s Centre City. Here are 15 sights in one ‘postcard’. Click on the blue text in caption for more information.
2. The Liberty Bell bears a timeless message: “Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof”.
3. Declaration House: Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence on this site in 1776.
4. Reading Terminal Market, began operations in 1892. The market is a one-stop shop for local produce, meats, artisanal cheeses, desserts and more.
5. The China Gate created by artist Sabrina Soong in 1984 marks the entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
6. Philadelphia City Hall, seen from Dilworth Plaza, is home to the Philadelphia city government since 1889 and is the largest municipal building in the USA.
A view of Philadelphia City Hall from Broad Street. The 37-foot-tall statue of city founder William Penn is atop the clock tower.
7. LOVE sculpture (1976) by artist Robert Indiana in LOVE Park/ John F. Kennedy Plaza.
8. Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, opened in 1864, is Philadelphia’s largest brownstone structure.
9. AMOR sculpture (1998) by artist Robert Indiana was installed in Sister Cities Park in 2016. AMOR means “love” in both Spanish and Latin.
10. The Swann Memorial Fountain sculpture created in 1924 by Alexander Stirling Calder. Located in the centre of Logan Square, the fountain memorializes Dr. Wilson Cary Swann, founder of the Philadelphia Fountain Society.
11. Free Library of Philadelphia – Opened in 1927, the Central Library was designed in the Beaux Arts style by Horace Trumbauer and Julian Francis Abele. It was built to serve as the main building of the Free Library of Philadelphia, chartered in 1891.
12. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, modeled after the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, is the home of museums, cultural institutions and other attractions. It was a pleasure to walk the tree-lined path from the Free Library to Philadelphia’s Museum of Art.
13. Rodin Museum, housing one of the largest public collections of Auguste Rodin’s works outside of Paris, including bronze casts of The Thinker and The Gates of Hell.
The Thinker sculpture at the entrance to the Rodin Museum.
14. The grand stairway at Philadelphia Museum of Art, also known as the “Rocky Steps“, is a popular attraction for visitors to run up the steps and take pictures at the top.
15. Rocky statue created by artist A. Thomas Schomberg in 1980 as a gift of Sylvester Stallone to the City of Philadelphia.
It was fun to explore Philadelphia. More to follow next week.
Weekend Coffee Share
I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #127 InLinkz below.
Despite the interstate rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, I always enjoy visiting Philly. It’s a great city, and I, too, appreciate its walkable layout. Great photos, Natalie. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit.
Hi Natalie, Malcolm grew up in Philly and has fond memories of the city it used to be. We went there for a wedding a few years ago and he couldn’t believe the changes. You have managed to capture all that is beautiful and significant about Philadelphia. I’ll make sure he reads this post.
Hi Suzanne, As a return visitor to Philly, I found that the city has done many things right over the past decade (e.g. plenty of beautiful public art, clear signage, general cleanliness of sidewalks, optimizing park space and the riverfronts). Philly is like a house with very good bones that in the right hands, its beauty shines. I hope Malcolm enjoys my post.
Thanks Natalie. I love your illustration of a house with good bones. Philly certainly has that. I’ll link my Sunday post tomorrow morning. Take care and enjoy your weekend.
Hi Natalie – that was all so interesting. I didn’t realize Philadelphia was so old. Australia is such a young country in comparison. A lot of history there too – and I had a bit of a movie flashback when you mentioned the Liberty Bell (National Treasure with Nicholas Cage).
Hi Leanne, Philly has a lot of history and the city has done a great job with information boards at the historic sites and landmarks. I enjoyed reading them to learn more about the city. The Rocky Steps are in the Rocky III movie starring Sylvester Stallone.
The Most Walkable City, that’s a draw for tourists I would think. Declaration House is an eye-catching building. Thanks for the virtual coffee, Natalie.
A great introduction to the city – not one I know at all (well, America is sadly almost a closed book to me, and there’s only Vancouver and Vancouver Island in Canada that I’ve visited).
Les, Thank you for your visit and comment. I agree that there’s lots of history to see in Philly. I also like some of the architecture and public art there.
What a lovely glimpse at Philly! I had to chuckle a bit at the mention of the grid layout of the city as I grew up in Santa Fe, NM which is the opposite and is often laughed about. There’s an old joke that the streets of SFe were charted by a Burro, but I’m not so sure it’s a joke 😉
Hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend, Natalie! As always, thank you for hosting us for a cuppa.
You’ve made me want to go back. I went once with Hal and his granddaughter. Even in his early 90s, Hal’s walking had slowed a bit. Your photos of Ben Franklin’s Parkway looked familiar. The three-story brick had a different shape, Pisa-esque. The brownstone is a lovely building. What a fun city to spend some time in. Lots of history! I’m glad you shared it.
Hi Marsha, As a return visitor, I found that Philly has a lot to offer. I really like that the city is walkable and has informative signage at the historic and artistic sites. I hope you get to revisit Philly.
This was a return visit for you. It’s always easier the second time around. You get your sea legs, as my dad used to say. I hope I get to visit again someday! 🙂
Natalie,
You certainly picked some great attractions to share for those of us who have spent little or no time in Philly. I’ve visited, but I’m almost embarrassed to say that I haven’t been to Declaration House or Independence Hall. I will correct that. Very interesting postcard! Joe
Joe, I like to visit historic places and older architecture so I made sure to go to Independence Hall and Declaration House. Declaration House was closed (for restoration I think) but the information boards around the house provide its historic significance.
What a great postcard! I was just talking to someone about how there were many Thinkers all over the world – Obviously Paris but there’s one in Singapore and the one you showed and a few others, I think….even tho we all think of it as one work….
Lydia, I’m glad you enjoyed my postcard. The Thinker sculpture is well-liked internationally so I assume it is cast several times and put on display in various countries.
Hi Donna, That LOVE sculpture is well-loved. I saw many visitors and two wedding parties having their pictures taken in front of the sculpture when I was there.
My brother lives in a suburb of Philly. I always enjoy going into the city. And, yeah, it is very walkable, though I think the old section of Boston is just as walk-accessible. I enjoyed your photos. Hope you enjoy your weekend 🙂
All cities can only be appreciated properly on foot, but of course some are kinder than others to full time pedestrians. I would enjoy the walk you took.
Thank you Janet for joining me virtually. Philly’s grid layout and very good map system at the main intersections make it easy for pedestrians and visitors to navigate the city’s centre.
Hi, Natalie! I’ve never visited a city with a Chinatown, but I’d like to! I think it would be like passing into another country for a brief while.
I love your photos, as always!
-Pamela
I absolutely love walkable cities. The architecture of Philadelphia’s magnificent buildings are incredible. Thank you for sharing! I almost felt like I walked there myself.
Great photos about this city. I didn’t know it what a city great for walking. I love visiting cities where I can walk instead of taking public transport as I like find little streets and roaming around without no particular destination in mind.
Thanks for sharing these photos. I have fond memories of living in Philly, but hadn’t thought of the The Swann Memorial Fountain in years. To me, at that time, it represented Big City Living.
I’m glad to hear you have fond memories of living in Philly. I like big fountains like that Swann Memorial fountain, and saw a few more at the Washington Monument, in front of Philly’s Museum of Art.
I’ve been to Philadelphia exactly once for a short work meeting. All I got to see of the city was Independence Hall through a taxicab window. So I loved your post – so cool to see the city through your eyes and lens. I hope to go back when I have time to see something besides the inside of a hotel meeting room.
Having never been to Philly, I enjoyed so much your tour – the public art is such fun! I love Robert Indiana, and one could mistake the Swann fountain as Rome! And the Rodin Museum – I didn’t realise there was another outside Paris; such fun.
And the Chinatown arch reminds me so much of London – I wonder if many Chinatowns have this iconic gateway.
I’m glad you enjoyed my postcard. The Swann fountain and the Rodin museum are both beautiful. A few chinatowns that have iconic gateway came to my mind: San Francisco, Toronto, and Victoria (Canada).
That Declaration house is cool looking. NYC has one of those Love signs as well. I have never been to Philadelphia. I love living vicariously through others. lol
Natalie the Explorer 
Despite the interstate rivalry between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, I always enjoy visiting Philly. It’s a great city, and I, too, appreciate its walkable layout. Great photos, Natalie. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit.
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Dan, Philly is a great city to visit. Lots of things to see and places to explore. I would love to visit Pittsburgh one day.
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Pittsburgh is walkable… if you like steps 😉
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Haha, thanks for the heads up Dan. I should visit Pittsburgh while my knees are still good 🙂
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Hi Natalie, Malcolm grew up in Philly and has fond memories of the city it used to be. We went there for a wedding a few years ago and he couldn’t believe the changes. You have managed to capture all that is beautiful and significant about Philadelphia. I’ll make sure he reads this post.
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Hi Suzanne, As a return visitor to Philly, I found that the city has done many things right over the past decade (e.g. plenty of beautiful public art, clear signage, general cleanliness of sidewalks, optimizing park space and the riverfronts). Philly is like a house with very good bones that in the right hands, its beauty shines. I hope Malcolm enjoys my post.
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Thanks Natalie. I love your illustration of a house with good bones. Philly certainly has that. I’ll link my Sunday post tomorrow morning. Take care and enjoy your weekend.
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Thank you Suzanne. I look forawrd to reading your post. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Thanks for the fabulous photos. Philadelphia looks like an amazing city. One I would love to visit one day.
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Darlene, Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Philly is a historic and artistic city. Its walkable centre is a big plus in my book.
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Hi Natalie – that was all so interesting. I didn’t realize Philadelphia was so old. Australia is such a young country in comparison. A lot of history there too – and I had a bit of a movie flashback when you mentioned the Liberty Bell (National Treasure with Nicholas Cage).
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Hi Leanne, Philly has a lot of history and the city has done a great job with information boards at the historic sites and landmarks. I enjoyed reading them to learn more about the city. The Rocky Steps are in the Rocky III movie starring Sylvester Stallone.
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The Most Walkable City, that’s a draw for tourists I would think. Declaration House is an eye-catching building. Thanks for the virtual coffee, Natalie.
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Thanks Shari for your comment. I definitely would choose to visit a walkable city over a car-required city.
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A great introduction to the city – not one I know at all (well, America is sadly almost a closed book to me, and there’s only Vancouver and Vancouver Island in Canada that I’ve visited).
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Thank you Margaret for your comment. You visited a very beautiful part of Canada. I’m happy to introduce Philadelphia to you virtually.
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Hi Natalie, you bring out the best in any place. We toured Philly using Duck tour. So next time will walk and enjoy.
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Thank you Ganga. I greatly enjoyed walking and exploring Philly’s Centre City. I hope you will too when you revisit Philly.
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Have been to Philly a number of times. It’s just a 45min. drive away for me. Lot’s of History there to see.
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Les, Thank you for your visit and comment. I agree that there’s lots of history to see in Philly. I also like some of the architecture and public art there.
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It’s great to hear about a walkable US city 🙂 I hate it when a place is so car-focused that there’s no easy way to explore on foot!
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I feel the same Sarah. Walkability score is part of my decision-making process when I select a destination to visit.
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What a lovely glimpse at Philly! I had to chuckle a bit at the mention of the grid layout of the city as I grew up in Santa Fe, NM which is the opposite and is often laughed about. There’s an old joke that the streets of SFe were charted by a Burro, but I’m not so sure it’s a joke 😉
Hope you enjoy a wonderful weekend, Natalie! As always, thank you for hosting us for a cuppa.
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Melis, Now I’m curious about Santa Fe street layout 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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I highly encourage you to look it up. It’s good for a solid chuckle 🙂
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I looked it up and had a solid chuckle 🙂
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You’ve made me want to go back. I went once with Hal and his granddaughter. Even in his early 90s, Hal’s walking had slowed a bit. Your photos of Ben Franklin’s Parkway looked familiar. The three-story brick had a different shape, Pisa-esque. The brownstone is a lovely building. What a fun city to spend some time in. Lots of history! I’m glad you shared it.
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Hi Marsha, As a return visitor, I found that Philly has a lot to offer. I really like that the city is walkable and has informative signage at the historic and artistic sites. I hope you get to revisit Philly.
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This was a return visit for you. It’s always easier the second time around. You get your sea legs, as my dad used to say. I hope I get to visit again someday! 🙂
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Hehe, I got my sea legs for sure Marsha 🙂 I’ve been to most cities on both coasts of the US, some several times.
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Wow, you are the traveler!
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Thank you for your tour of Philadelphia – I feel I have been there this morning!
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Thank you for joining my tour virtually.
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Natalie,
You certainly picked some great attractions to share for those of us who have spent little or no time in Philly. I’ve visited, but I’m almost embarrassed to say that I haven’t been to Declaration House or Independence Hall. I will correct that. Very interesting postcard! Joe
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Joe, I like to visit historic places and older architecture so I made sure to go to Independence Hall and Declaration House. Declaration House was closed (for restoration I think) but the information boards around the house provide its historic significance.
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What a great postcard! I was just talking to someone about how there were many Thinkers all over the world – Obviously Paris but there’s one in Singapore and the one you showed and a few others, I think….even tho we all think of it as one work….
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Lydia, I’m glad you enjoyed my postcard. The Thinker sculpture is well-liked internationally so I assume it is cast several times and put on display in various countries.
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Wow, so much to see. I visited Philadelphia last September and didn’t see more than half of the places in your post. I have to go back to see more.
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Yes, lots to see in Philly. I hope to share more about Philly when I have time to write.
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I look forward to reading your post.
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Philadelphia is an interesting place though your pictures & being able to walk to all the sites.
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Yes, I enjoyed my visit to Philadelphia. There are a few more sites that I hope to visit the next time I return to Philly.
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What a wonderful city tour, Natalie. I especially like how walkable the city is. And of course, I LOVE the LOVE sculpture!
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Hi Donna, That LOVE sculpture is well-loved. I saw many visitors and two wedding parties having their pictures taken in front of the sculpture when I was there.
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Wonderful tour with you. Thank you.
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Thank you Klara for your visit and comment. I’m glad you enjoyed my post.
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My brother lives in a suburb of Philly. I always enjoy going into the city. And, yeah, it is very walkable, though I think the old section of Boston is just as walk-accessible. I enjoyed your photos. Hope you enjoy your weekend 🙂
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Yes, downtown Boston, New York and part of DC are walkable. Have a wonderful weekend, Trent.
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Yes, it is a very walkable city! Lots of good food.
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Yes, lots of good food in Philly.
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All cities can only be appreciated properly on foot, but of course some are kinder than others to full time pedestrians. I would enjoy the walk you took.
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Thank you Janet for joining me virtually. Philly’s grid layout and very good map system at the main intersections make it easy for pedestrians and visitors to navigate the city’s centre.
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Hi, Natalie! I’ve never visited a city with a Chinatown, but I’d like to! I think it would be like passing into another country for a brief while.
I love your photos, as always!
-Pamela
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Hi Pam, yes, a visit to Chinatown is a sensory enriching and educational experience.
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We were just there last week. Philly is a great walking city. You covered everything. That boulevard that ends at the Rocky steps is beautiful.
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How cool that you were just there last week. I’m glad you had a good visit to Philly, too.
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Hello Natalie! It’s hot in Wisconsin today! Have a cool weekend!
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Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend!
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I absolutely love walkable cities. The architecture of Philadelphia’s magnificent buildings are incredible. Thank you for sharing! I almost felt like I walked there myself.
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Thank you Maria for sharing your thoughts. Lots to discover while walking in Philadelphia.
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Hi Natalie, should definitely have read yours first, you’ll see why!
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Thank you Ali for sharing your postcard. It’s like we are ‘penpals’ in the 21st century.
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Haha ..digital ones
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What a wonderful city you live in. It’s wonderful to be able to visit virtually. So much history. How good that you can walk everywhere.
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I was visiting Philadelphia. I’ve been to Philadelphia before this trip and finally made time to write a ‘postcard’. Philly is a great city to visit.
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Great photos about this city. I didn’t know it what a city great for walking. I love visiting cities where I can walk instead of taking public transport as I like find little streets and roaming around without no particular destination in mind.
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I feel the same about walking to explore a city. I go at my pace and decide on my itinerary.
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Thanks for sharing these photos. I have fond memories of living in Philly, but hadn’t thought of the The Swann Memorial Fountain in years. To me, at that time, it represented Big City Living.
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I’m glad to hear you have fond memories of living in Philly. I like big fountains like that Swann Memorial fountain, and saw a few more at the Washington Monument, in front of Philly’s Museum of Art.
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I’ve been to Philadelphia exactly once for a short work meeting. All I got to see of the city was Independence Hall through a taxicab window. So I loved your post – so cool to see the city through your eyes and lens. I hope to go back when I have time to see something besides the inside of a hotel meeting room.
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I know those work trips, just work and no time for leisure. I hope when you return to Philly, it will be for fun exploring.
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What a cool trip and a beautiful post. So very nice. Thanks for sharing and such great pics. Philly is a place that I really want to spend of time in.
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I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Philly is a great city to visit.
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Having never been to Philly, I enjoyed so much your tour – the public art is such fun! I love Robert Indiana, and one could mistake the Swann fountain as Rome! And the Rodin Museum – I didn’t realise there was another outside Paris; such fun.
And the Chinatown arch reminds me so much of London – I wonder if many Chinatowns have this iconic gateway.
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I’m glad you enjoyed my postcard. The Swann fountain and the Rodin museum are both beautiful. A few chinatowns that have iconic gateway came to my mind: San Francisco, Toronto, and Victoria (Canada).
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Also London!
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Yes, quite a few around the world.
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That Declaration house is cool looking. NYC has one of those Love signs as well. I have never been to Philadelphia. I love living vicariously through others. lol
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I also enjoy reading where other bloggers have traveled to.
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I love that view from Dilworth Plaza to City Hall, Natalie. It makes a stunning shot. Thanks for showing me the sights.
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Thank you, Jo, for stopping by. Philly’s City Hall is a beautiful and huge building
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I haven’t been to Philadelphia in ages! We went once years and year ago when my youngest was a baby and spent a day at the zoo.
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There are lots to see and do in Philly. Now that your boys are older, maybe you go back to see different sights there.
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