The architectural verticalism of the skyscrapers of nearby Downtown contrasts with this area characterized by old and low buildings. The environment is characterized by the ethnic groups that live there, the Italians in the now small Little Italy and the Chinese in Chinatown.
Summary sheet
Places to Visit
No particular place to visit, some areas are characteristic for their environment, Italian for Little Italy and Eastern for Chinatown, while the East Village is a rather trendy place, crowded with young people, students and artists.
Culture
There is the New Museum Of Contemporary Art, with provocative and controversial works, the International Center of Photography Museum, founded in 1974 by Cornell Capa, brother of Robert Capa, the Merchant's House Museum, the only house in Manhattan that still has its original furnishings, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, on the history of immigration and finally the Museum of Chinese in America, the Ukrainian Museum and the Museum at Eldridge Street with an ethnic character.
Food & shopping
Generally there are no large commercial chains but small shops that, especially in Chinatown, also sell gold and sometimes fake designer items. Mulberry St. there are many Italian restaurants while in the East Village there are numerous bars, restaurants and pubs. Among the latter is McSorley's Old Ale House, one of the oldest in New York City.
Length and Visit Time (without visits)
7 km - 1h45'-2h30'
Map
Map created with Google Maps
Itinerary
Subway: 6, J, N, Q, R, W, Z (Canal St.)
The start is the intersection of Canal St. and Broadway, the heart of
Chinatown, following Canal St. towards the East River until you reach Mott St., where you turn right to immerse yourself in the narrow streets of Chinatown. Then turn left onto Pell St. and left again onto Bowery St. to return to cross Canal St. where there is access to the
Manhattan Bridge. Now keeping the bridge on the right you go towards the
Sara Roosevelt Park to browse in the park where the boys compete on the sports fields and groups of Chinese play cards. Nearby is the
Museum at Eldridge Street, which is located inside an ancient synagogue from 1887. When you reach Grand St. turn left and walk for two blocks then left again on Elizabeth St. and then right on Canal St. for two blocks to Mulberry St. Here on the right and following this street. This is
Little Italy! Again on Mulberry St. to Broome St. Here on the left to Centre St. The building on the left is the old headquarters of the
New York Police Headquarters Building, now converted into a luxury condominium. Now right on Cleveland Pl. and Lafayette St. Reached Prince St. on the right and then immediately left to Mulberry St. After a few dozen meters on the right there is the
old St. Patrick's Cathedral and a block further on the left the
Puck Building at the corner with Houston St.
Here ends the area of Chinatown and Little Italy, and if you want to stop there are several subway stations.
Subway: B, D, F, M (Broadway/Lafayette St.), 6 (Bleecker St.), R, W (Prince St.).
Continuing on Lafayette St. until
Astor Pl. you go towards the
East Village. Along this stretch there are some places like the
Merchant's House Museum which can be reached with a small detour to east 4th St., while further on, always on Lafayette St., there are on the left side the
Colonnade Row and on the right the
Public Theater. When you reach Astor Pl. you go right, where there is the
Cooper Union and then immediately right again on Cooper Sq. where you arrive briefly on the 3rd Ave. where you turn left.
On the right there is a modern building and just at the beginning of East 7th St. there is one of the two oldest pubs in the city,
McSorley's Old Ale House. Going back you go right on 3rd Ave. and again right on St. Mark Pl. Following it you arrive at Tompinks Sq. where there is the
Tompinks Sq. Park. After visiting this small park we go towards 10th St. (north-west corner of the square), which should be followed until Broadway. On this stretch there are two churches. The first,
St. Mark's Church-In-The-Bowery, is located at the intersection with 2nd Ave., while the second,
Grace Church, is at the corner with Broadway.
On Broadway, turn right and after a few blocks you will reach Union Sq. where the itinerary ends
.
Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W (14th St.-Union Square)
THE GUIDE
ITA