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The
first European settlement on Manhattan was by the Dutch, in the 1620s,
who named the city New Amsterdam. In 1664, the British took over and renamed
it New York. The settlement rapidly flourished, expanding from south to
north along the island and further. Now it is known as a great cultural
and financial center, a hub of fashion, art, publishing, broadcasting,
theater, and advertising.
Anyone
is involved on the rhythm of living there, the melting of cultures, races,
religions and its dinammism imbue every corner, street and square of this
fantastic city. People often fall in love with what they came looking
for - the Empire State Building, with its top stories festively illuminated
in red, white, and blue; Central Park under a blanket of snow; or the
Statue of Liberty, which neither cliche nor cheap souvenir can render
common. Whether you're a first timer or an old hand, New York's attractions
are boundless. New York is the most filmed city in the world, so many
films, reports, postcards... It became familiar to all people around the
planet.
The city that never sleeps, best known for its 24-hour
pulsatile life, wealth of neon lights and busy streets also has the picturesque
oasis of Central Park, the breezy Hudson River and the perfect retreat
of Long Island. However, the heart of New York always has been and still
very much is the island of Manhattan, which is surrounded by four other
distinct city boroughs – the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten
Island, each with its own personality and charm.
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