After spending three delightful days in beautiful Charleston, we arrived in Savannah with the intention of going for a night stroll and leaving the next morning. However, we fell in love with this city at first glance. Savannah is one of the most charming cities we’ve visited in the US. It may be relatively small, but it’s bursting with history, charm, and art. The city is meticulously planned, giving it a distinctive spirit. Every few blocks, there is a little green oasis with live oaks draped with Spanish moss.
General James Edward Oglethorpe founded Savannah in 1733, designing it as a series of neighborhoods centered around 24 squares. Chippewa Square, at the heart of the downtown historic district, gained fame in the movie “Forrest Gump.” Tom Hanks, who plays Forrest, sits on a park bench in this square for about 80% of the film, sharing his life story with anyone who will listen.
The historical part of Savannah is packed with beautifully preserved old buildings, each featuring small, cozy private gardens filled with evergreen plants and flowers. Savannah boasts numerous churches from different time periods and styles. The most spectacular among them is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, designed and built in the French Gothic style in the early 19th century.
Forsyth Park, though small, is beautiful, featuring a gorgeous fountain. The city offers many bars and restaurants with live music. The cherry on the cake for us was an evening spent with our new friends Alison and Jim from SV Aquarius in a jazz bar.
And of course, who could forget the drainpipe ending with the open-mouth fish? Savannah truly captured our hearts with its unique blend of history, nature, and vibrant culture.
