Don’t fail to visit the dozens of galleries in Old City, which is north of Market Street and south of Race Street. Hundreds flock to the area on the first Friday of every month, when galleries stay open late and serve refreshments.

When you’re tired of visiting shows and want to give your wallet a rest, take an art walk along the streets that natives Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassatt and Cecila Beaux (to name a few) once trod. Like its sister city, Rome, Philadelphia boasts numerous fountains, many of them great works of art that most tourists never get to see. And thanks to the Mural Arts Project, Philadelphia is also a mural capital—at 2,500-plus, it has more than any other U.S. city—which you will find throughout the city. (Before you visit, contact Philadelphia Hospitality, a non-profit organization that designs programs for groups, including visits to exceptional private homes and art collections, exquisite gardens and behind-the-scenes tours of the area’s most prestigious cultural and historic organizations.)

While wandering, the Shanises recommend at least one meal at Lacroix, at the ultra-luxe Rittenhouse Hotel. “On the third floor of the hotel is a large gallery featuring works of emerging artists,” Carole notes. “It’s another place of discovery.”

Art & Antiques’ Philadelphia correspondent Jim McClelland is the executive director emeritus of the Philadelphia Art Alliance. He specializes in the arts and is the author of The Fountains of Philadelphia, 2005.

PHILADELPHIA CHECKLIST

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(Area code 215 unless otherwise noted)

►Franklin Institute
20th St. and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
448.1200
www.fi.edu

►Mural Arts Program
1729 Mount Vernon St.
685.0750
www.muralarts.org

►Philadelphia Hospitality
123 South Broad St, Suite 1330
800.714.3287
www.philahospitality.org

►Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 South 18th St.
545.4302
www.philartalliance.org

►Philadelphia Museum Annual Craft Show
12th and Arch St.
684.7930
www.pmacraftshow.org
 
►Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th St. & Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
763.8100
www.philamuseum.org

►Philadelphia Open Studios Tours
237 South 18th St., Suite 3A
546.7775
www.philaopenstudios.com

►Union League of Philadelphia
140 South Broad St.
563.6500
www.unionleague.org

►USArtists
1301 Cherry St. 8th floor
972.2042
www.usartists.org