NORTH BEACH- San Francisco, CA - VirtualTourist.com

Funky, crazy, and European are just a few adjectives that describe North Beach, the favourite neighbourhood of many visitors and San Franciscans alike. Evolving from an enclave of Genoese dock workers in the early part of the century to the famed haunt of Beat-era poets, writers, and musicians in the 1950s, North Beach is both an ethnic neighbourhood and a bohemian one- although both those identities have become more and more endangerd as housing costs in the neighbourhood grow. Nevertheless, the original atmopsheres of this district of stucco Mediterranean-style buildings are still in visual evidence. Walk up the neighbourhood's principal thoroughfare, Columbus Avenue, and be sure to take in the view back toward the Transamerica Pyramid, with the beautiful old Columbus tower in the foreground. The Columbus Tower is home to the offices of director Francis Ford Coppola, and his new Café Niebaum-Coppola at its base is reputed to be excellent. Further up Columbus is the legendary Café Vesuvio, the haunt of the Beat poets. Just across Jack Kerouac Alley (named for the most famous Beat of them all) is City Lights Books, another former Beat hangout. Up the street a little more is the beautiful Shrine of St. Francis of Asissi, a striking little stucco church. Of course, it is thoroughlly eclipsed by another church, the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul, whose white spires reach skyward majestically. The church sits on Washington Square, an impeccably maintained little park that serves as the neighbourhood's central gathering place. In the mornings many people doing Tai Chi can be seen in the park, evidence of the creeping influence of Chinatown which has begun to invade North Beach. Up Filbert Street and the Filbert Steps is, of course the most famous landmark in North Beach, the Coit Tower. Of course, simply seeing the more visited sights in the neighbourhoods does not allow one to experience it. To truly get to know North Beach, stroll amongst the cafés, peak into the delis, and go to a jazz club.

NORTH BEACH, San Francisco

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NORTH BEACH, San Francisco

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