We hope you will enjoy your stay in America’s Renaissance City!

Providence has seven hills, 4 colleges, and 126 Italian restaurants. There’s so much to see and do while you’re here that we thought we’d suggest our favorites instead of mentioning everything. After years of renovation, river-relocation, and historical preservation, you’re going enjoy it here.

Food

A lesser-known, vital fact about Providence is that it is America's Donut City, in that it has the largest concentration of donut shops of any city in the country, Boston having the second-largest (as reported by Katie Couric on Good Morning America during the DNC, July 28, 2004). Key among our local donutessens are the MANY Dunkin' Donuts, but if you look around, there are hidden local gems as well.

Federal Hill - This traditionally Italian neighborhood has restaurants and cafes that rival Boston and Chicago's Little Italys. Take a cab or get on the Providence trolley bus at Kennedy Plaza (green line, $1 token). Visit Constantino's for excellent outdoor dining on DePasquale Square.

Al Forno - New Yorkers come all the way to Rhode Island just to eat here. Northern Italian, pan European dining in a rustic setting. Enjoyed grilled pizza in the courtyard outdoors!

Chez Pascal - Romantic French Bistro on Hope Street

The Modern Diner - The first diner in the nation to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (technically in Pawtucket, RI)

Del's - An RI institution! Our own brand of delicious frozen lemonade. Catch the truck in front of Providence City Hall. Del's is one of RI's three unofficial drinks. The other two are coffee milk made with Autocrat coffee syrup, and Dunkin Donuts coffee. If you can't find the Dunkin Donuts closest to you, just turn your head, it's probably on the other side of the street.

Shopping

S. Water Street
Wayland Square
Thayer Street
Wickenden Street
Providence Place Mall

Newport - Take the Providence-Newport Ferry to swish shopping on the Wharf. Providence pick-up is at Point St. Landing. Call (401) 453-6800 for reservations.

Entertainment

The Cable Car Cinema couch seats! (independent films)

RI School of Design Museum (walking distance from hotels!)

Providence Children's Museum - Giant teeth, puppetry

Newport Ferry- Take the ferry from India Point Providence to Newport. It a fun trip on the Bay and there's plenty of shopping and eating to do when you arrive!

Providence Fun-Facts:

• Sister City: Venice, Italy. Venice has more gondolas, but Providence has Waterfire.

• Dubious Distinction: Buddy Cianci - beloved, corrupt, and incarcerated. Cianci is the father of Providence’s Renaissance. Our wedding couldn’t take place without his work to re-route the Woonasquatucket and Mossassuck Rivers, build Waterplace Park with its Amphitheatre and Bella Vista Restaurant structures, and attract the Westin Hotel and mall developers to Providence. Although he was convicted of racketeering in the nation’s first and only RICO prosecution, we’re sure he’ll be out and running for office again soon.