Just a stone's throw from Times Square, Broadway is the city's most famous avenue. For its theaters, nightlife and culture, of course, but Broadway has much more to offer: amazing history and remarkable architecture.
A little history
Broadway is a rather special street: it's the only one that isn't a straight line, and connects the north of Manhattan to the south: it stretches for 21 kilometers.
It existed even before the arrival of European settlers in America. The Amerindians called what was then just a trail "the Wickquasgeck "so it's New York's oldest avenue.
Today, it's still the best-known and busiest street: it's where most of New York life is concentrated. Since 2009, parts of Broadway have become pedestrianized, as car and pedestrian traffic had become unmanageable.
Visitors are delighted: shopping has become all the more enjoyable. There are so many stores to choose from, you're bound to find something to fill your luggage: all the big names are there to welcome you!
But Broadway is best known for its theatrical activity: there's an exceptional concentration of huge theaters here, with shows ranging from the confidential to the well-known. The Lion King and Mamma Mia are among the most recent hits, but you can also see performances of legendary American musicals such as Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables. Musicals are a veritable Broadway institution, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Broadway isn't just about musicals, it's also about plays. Classics and new works alike, and the actors on stage are by no means unknowns: Katie Holmes, Natalie Portman, Daniel Radcliffe, Scarlett Johansonamong other stars, have played here and return regularly. It's in English, of course, but it can be a unique experience to see such renowned actors in the flesh.
Outstanding buildings
The Flatiron Building is undoubtedly one of New York's most famous buildings. It's nicknamed iron "because of its unusual shape.
This building is triangular. As Broadway is the only avenue not to follow a straight line but a diagonal, it was impossible to fit a square or rectangular building at this intersection, so we created this " pointed " building.
So, no wasted space The Flatiron Building was built between 1900 and 1902, and it hasn't aged a day.
As for the Woolworth Building, one of Manhattan's oldest skyscrapers. Even though it is a long way behind the city's tallest buildings, its height is still remarkable, standing at 240 meters above sea level. It held the record until 1930. The interior is closed to the public, but the neo-Gothic façade is truly something to be admired.
