Located along the banks of the river Mississippi, the capital of Louisiana it turns out to be a mix of culture, history and industrial landscape. Walking through its streets, dotted with houses with typical wrought iron balconies, it is easy to imagine the city a few centuries ago, when its streets were crossed only by carriages, when troops of soldiers fought for their freedom or when the ancient American Indians performed propitiatory ceremonies on the shores of its small lakes.
The first thing you notice when arriving is the monumental tower of the State Capitol, the seat of the state legislature. Visible internally, it strikes from before the entrance, for its staircase carved with the names of the 50 states and the respective dates of annexation (the most attentive will note that in reality there are 48 states: Alaska and Hawaii are missing because they were annexed after the completion of the building). it is also possible climb to the top to admire the city from above from the splendid panoramic terrace that surrounds the building.
Not far from the State Capitol you can visit an ancient Indian religious site overlooking the two lakes of the city and some sites from the Civil War era: theArsenal Museum, the reproduction of the bell that rang the independence Day in the distant 1776, and the Pentagon Barraks, a military base that once belonged to the Spanish, French, English and Confederate troops, and Spanish Town, a Spanish-influenced neighborhood characterized by small colorful houses.
Then moving towards the city center you can stop for a short visit to the Lousiana State Museum that with its exhibitions traces the history of the state since before it was born. A short distance from the latter is the Old Governor Mansion, the ancient mansion that hosted the governors of the state until 1961. It can be visited internally and today is the site of events and splendid wedding receptions. One step away is what I think is the pride of the city: theOld State Capitol, the ancient seat of the legislature, elegantly built on a hill overlooking the river, is an uncommon example of a southern Gothic mansion. Don't miss the view of the beautiful interior rooms and be sure to attend the performance it tells of ghost of the castle: Sarah Morgan, who lived during the civil war and wrote about it in "A Confederate Girl's diary"
Not to be missed: a walk along the banks of the Mississippi, the panoramic view of the city from the State Capitol, the visit to the Old State Capitol.
