Let's Travel the World

24 de mai. de 2023

Melody and harmony in Nola

NOLA. The least North American city of all cities in North America! A place with lots of culture and fun!!

Let’s check out the stories of some of the New Orleans' neighborhoods and their main places??

French Quarter

French Quarter was inaugurated in 1718 (long before NOLA belonged to the United States). It is the main and most traditional neighborhood of the city, which is on the bank of the Mississipi River.

Also known as Vieux Carré (in French), its architecture has a European colonial style, with French and Spanish influence, so its houses are protected by regulations that prevent demolition and renovations that would alter the original characteristics.

Because it is located in an uptown area, the neighborhood was not damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which devastated much of the city.

Considered one of the city’s postcards, the French Quarter is the scene of several legends and real stories of haunting and a lot of magic. Known for the intensity of its nightlife, it is possible to find the main attractions of NOLA in the neighborhood. To learn more, visit the website.

Jackson Square e St. Louis Cathedral

Jackson Square opened in 1721 under the name of Place d’Armes (Place of Arms). After the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, the former military square was renamed Jackson Square, in honor of General Andrew Jackson. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 for its pivotal role in NOLA’s history and as the place Louisiana came under United States control.

St. Louis Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France), was built in 1720 in Jackson Square, the central square of New Orleans. The original cathedral was destroyed during the fire of 1788. A new one was built and expanded, reopening in 1850. Today, it is considered one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States. To learn more, visit the website.

The Presbytère

The Presbytère, built in 1791, is located next to St. Louis Cathedral and was designed to match the Cabildo. Originally called ‘Ecclesiastical House’, it was built on the site of the residence (or presbytère) of the Capuchin monks.

In 1911, the architectural building became part of the Louisiana State Museum and it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.

Today, the museum contains two permanent exhibitions, which tell two sides of the Louisiana story, one of celebration (‘Mardi Gras’) and one of resilience (‘Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond’). Want to know more, visit the website.

The Cabildo

Also located next to St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo was the seat of the Spanish colonial town hall. The original Cabildo was destroyed in 1788, in the ‘Great Fire of New Orleans’, and was rebuilt between 1795 to 1799.

Used as the site of the ceremony and transfer of Louisiana to American rule, it continued to be used as the seat of the Supreme Court of the State of Louisiana.

In 1908, the Cabildo became home to the Louisiana State Museum and since then this National Historic Landmark has served to educate visitors about Louisiana’s history, featuring exhibits such as documents, paintings and 3D objects. To learn more, visit the website.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street is one of the main streets in the French Quarter and is well known for its bars and clubs. During the night, the street is closed to cars allowing visitors to Walk along it in peace.

NOLA is the only city in the United States that allows alcohol to be consumed on the street. In addition to the bars and clubs, on Bourbon Street you can find several restaurants with traditional dishes from the city, souvenir and voodoo shops.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, opened in 1990, is managed by the Audubon Institute and specializes in marine life from the Americas, such as the Caribbean, the Amazon Rainforest, the Mississipi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

It has more than 3,600 animals from more than 250 species, incluing endangered ones such as African penguins and rare animals such as white alligators.

In 2005, its facility suffered damage because of Hurricane Katrina. Although the structures survived the Aquarium had many power outages and generators failed, resulting in a great loss of its animals. Want to know more, visit the website.

Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall was a space where racially integrated bands and audiences shared music in the Jim Cow Era.

Located in the French Quarter, today it is a jazz venue and is related to a band, a record label and a non-profit foundation, the Preservation Hall Foundation which is dedicated to educational projects such as private lessons and presentations of workshops. To learn more, visit the website.

French Market

The French Market is an open-air market, similar to European markets, offering retail stores, local products, handicrafts, restaurants and much more. The market began in 1791 as a Native American trading post, then evolved into a cultural and commercial center for NOLA when it was opened by settlers to ships and merchants from around the world.

Over the next three centuries, immigrants opened their own businesses in the French Quarter, from Italian butchers to African cafes. Only in the 19th century did the market get its modern structure, designed by the African-American architect, Joseph Abeilard.

Originally, the market was called ‘The Meat Shops’ or ‘Meat Market’, as it was the only place in the neighborhood that could sell meat. However, only after the meat was sold elsewhere the name was changed to French Market. Want to know more, visit the website.

Garden District

Garden District is a neighborhood that not every tourist knows. The mansions are one of the highlights of this neighborhood, built between 1830 and 1900, considered one of the best examples of American Southern architecture at the time.

The neighborhood received this name because of how the houses were made. In the beginning, they were built on large lots, with huge gardens. Over the years, these lots were divided as downtown New Orleans became more urban.

Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974, today the Garden District is a residencial neighborhood, but with a stretch of Magazine Street bustling with restaurants and cafes.

Lafayette Cemetery

Lafayette Cemetery, founded in 1833, is a historic Garden District cemetery. The first to be planned, it is part of a collection of 42 cemeteries within the city. Its name takes into account its location in the ancient city of Lafayette, which was annexed to New Orleans in 1852.

One of the notable gravesites is that of Harry T. Hays, an officer (in the US Army who served in the Mexican-American War) and general (who served in the Comfederate Army during the American Civil War).

The cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, due to its architectural and socio-historical importance, and has served as a backdrop for several films.

Faubourg Marigny

Faubourg Marigny is another historic and bohemian neighborhood in New Orleans, considered one of its first suburbs.

The Marigny, as it is also known, was formerly owned by Creole millionaire Bernad Xavier Phillippe, on what was his family plantation. In 1994, the neighborhood was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Seen as one of the most colorful neighborhoods in the city, it has a mix of elements from the French, Spanish and Caribbean colonial period which result in a unique architectural style. Today, Faubourg Marigny is home to New Orleans’ famous Mardi Gras.

Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen Street is one of the most famous streets in NOLA, which was created in the 1980s when jazz musicians grew tired of the Bourbon Street party style.

The street contains residences, parks and businesses, but its oldest and main area is located in Faubourd Marigny, where you can find several restaurants, bars, shops and galleries, and all imaginable musical styles, from jazz to hip hop. Want to know more, visit the website.