The city was founded in 1613 by a small group of Dutch settlers on Manhattan Island. Originally named New Amsterdam, it was renamed in 1664 by the English, who had bought the island for $24, in honor of James II, Duke of York. Today, New York is a huge metropolis, divided into five large boroughs - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx – and is one of the most important cities on the planet.
It is home to the headquarters of the United Nations, and is the world’s financial capital, with all the other Stock Exchanges influenced by Wall Street.
It is also the most densely populated city in the United States, and the most multi-ethnic. It has been the gateway for the immigrants who have shaped the nation.
New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside Israel, the largest Puerto Rican community outside Puerto Rico and the largest African American community in the United States. In the early years of the 20th century, New York’s Italian population was higher than that of Rome!
Immigrants, who founded their own neighborhoods such as Little Italy or Chinatown, grew to such an extent that there are 800 languages spoken in New York today, an all-time world record. It’s easy to see why the Statue of Liberty is the monument New Yorkers are most attached to.
There’s nothing you can’t find or do in New York, with its many museums, theatres, restaurants, clubs, exhibitions and concerts. New Yorkers have blended their cultures, making this the American – and indeed world – capital of music, theatre and literature, as well as the birthplace of the most significant trends of recent decades, such as Pop Art and Graffiti Art, and a mecca for the greatest rock concerts.
If you let yourself be swept along by the frantic pace of life in New York, you’ll really feel as if you’re at the center of the world.
An interesting fact: do you have any idea how many skyscrapers there are in New York? Almost 6,000, 100 of which are higher than 100 meters, and 50 of which are higher than 200 meters.
So get ready to visit the wonders of this splendid city.
Enjoy your stay!
