by Holle Abee

Created on: June 19, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

The City of Brotherly Love is comprised of several different areas, each with its own unique personality. Many of these neighborhoods are actually made up of several different communities, and sometimes it's difficult to tell where one stops and another begins:

Center City: Home of the Liberty Bell, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, major hotels, museums, restaurants, nightclubs, and great shopping. You'll also find Chinatown, the Delaware Riverfront, and historic Olde City here.

Chestnut Hill: A historic district with cobblestone streets, elegant old homes, parks, gardens, Woodmere Art Museum, Morris Arboretum, boutiques, cafes, antique stores, beautiful neighborhoods, and plenty of cultural events.

Germantown: Settled by German immigrants, this neighborhood boasts many historic homes, art galleries, small shops, restaurants, and bars. One of the nation's oldest suburbs.

Main Line: A haven for outdoor lovers, with 75 public parks, including Valley Forge Park, where George Washington camped. The area includes cliffs along the river, woods, rolling hills, creeks, meadows, theaters, trails, antique shops, top restaurants, and family activity centers.

Manayunk/Roxborough: A National Historic District near the river, with 65 trendy boutiques and galleries and over 30 restaurants and bars. A great walking community.

Mt. Airy: Where folks from different ethnic groups, ages, and incomes live together in peace. Good shopping, restaurants, and beautiful gardens.

North: Home to Huntington Park, Strawberry Mansion, and Temple University. Lots of young families and students live here.

Northeast: A residential area with malls, shopping centers, small businesses, and large corporations.

South Philly: An Italian neighborhood with an attitude! Rocky was filmed here. Home to the open-air Italian Market, narrow streets, row houses, neighborhood bars and restaurants, and the best cheesesteaks in the country. It's also where the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, and the Flyers play - at the Philadelphia Sports Complex.

Southwest: Home to the Philadelphia International Airport, industries, rowhouses, and a poor economy - but a rich cultural diversity.

West: A crime-ridden area, home to the Philadelphia Zoo, Tower Theater, Mann Music Center, Clark Park, Fairmount Park, neighborhood garden plots, colleges, and universities.

Learn more about this author, Holle Abee.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.