Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Established by religious moderates fleeing persecution from Massachusetts Puritans,
'new port' flourished to become the fourth richest city in the newly independent colony
and the harbor remains one of the most active and important yachting centres in the
country. Downtown the Colonial-era architecture is beautifully preserved, although it
struggles to compete with the opulent 'summer cottages' built by latter-day industrialists
on the back of shipping, railroad and mining fortunes. Modeled on Italianate
palazzi
,
French
chateaux
and Elizabethan manor houses, these buildings remain the town's
premier attraction alongside a series of summer music festivals, which are among the
most important in the US.
Sights & Activities
Preservation Society of Newport County
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
( 401-847-1000;
www.newportmansions.org
;
424 Bellevue Ave; 5-site ticket adult/child $49/19)
Five of Newport's grandest mansions are managed by this society. Each mansion takes
about 90 minutes to tour.
»
Breakers
(44 Ochre Point Ave; adult/child $19.50/5.50; 9am-5pm Apr-mid-Oct, hours vary mid-Oct-Mar;
)
If you have time for only one Newport mansion, make it this extravagant 70-room,
1895 Italian Renaissance mega-palace built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, patriarch of
America's then-richest family.
»
Rosecliff
(548 Bellevue Ave; adult/child $14.50/5.50;
10am-5pm Apr-mid-Oct, hrs vary mid-Oct-Mar;
)
A 1902 masterpiece of architect Stanford White, Rosecliff resembles the Grand Trianon
at Versailles. Its immense ballroom had a starring role in Robert Redford's
The Great
Gatsby
.
»
The Elms
(
www.newportmansions.org
;
367 Bellevue Ave; adult/child $14.50/5.50, servant-life tour adult/child
$15/5; 10am-5pm Apr-mid-Oct, hours vary mid-Oct-Mar; )
Built in 1901, the Elms is a
replica of Château d'Asnières, built near Paris in 1750. You can take a 'behind-the-
scenes' tour which will have you snaking through the servants' quarters and up onto the
roof.
Rough Point
HISTORIC BUILDING
(
www.newportrestoration.com
;
680 Bellevue Ave; adult/child $25/free;
10am-2pm Thu-Sat mid-
)
Once called the 'richest little girl
Apr-mid-May, 10am-3.45pm Tue-Sat mid-May-mid-Nov;
