Let's discover Providence
(From The Rough Guide to New England)
Stretching across seven hills on the Providence and Seekonk rivers, PROVIDENCE was Rhode Island's first settlement, established "in commemoration of God's Providence" on land given to Roger Williams by the Narragansett Indians - that is why I suppose the hospital, a park and even the casino are named after Roger...
Many lavish homes were constructed during this period, some of which can still be seen in the Benefit Street district.
Among those who propered was James Brown, whose four sons found success: Joseph, an architect responsible for many of the city's most elegant buildings; John, a somewhat ruthless merchant; Nicholas, whose son's donation of $5000 to his alma mater sparked its taking the Brown family name; and Moses, who contributed in introducing the nation's first water-powered cotton mill in nearby Pawtucket, ensuring that the textile industry was to become a mainstay of the local economy.
Rhode Island's capital since 1901, Providence has emerged with a new sense of pride and vigor, after an aggressive urban renewal program throughout the late 1990s. Locals are quick to wax lyrical about their town's vibrant art scene, excellent restaurants, and ethnic and lifestyle diversity.
The city is separated into two main parts by the Providence river. The downtown area, known to locals as Downcity, contains several examples of finely restaured buildings from the 19th c. and even before. West of Downcity is the large Italian community on Federal Hill, where you can find "real" Italian cuisine by the DePasquale Square. East of the river is the oldest and most attractive section of town. Known as the East Side, it is crowned by College Hill, a showcase of architectural preservation, and home to the Ivy League's Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD, named "Risdee"), the latter giving to the East Side a quite artsy verve.
posted by Thérèse @ 11:14 AM
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