Los Angeles was founded as a small settlement in the 18th century under Spanish rule and takes the full name of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles.
During my stay in the United States while visiting Davide, I had the opportunity to explore both Los Angeles and San Diego for a few days.
Los Angeles was not one of my favorite American cities. Perhaps because it is one of those cities that we all know before we actually see it, through films, TV series, and iconic Hollywood imagery. And when you arrive, you realize that this narrative does not always coincide with daily reality. The city is enormous, sprawling, made up of very long distances and very different neighborhoods.
Los Angeles was founded as a small settlement in the 18th century under Spanish rule and takes the full name of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles. During the 19th century it first became part of Mexico and then, after the Mexican-American War, became part of the United States. True development came in the 20th century, however, with the expansion of the film industry. Hollywood transforms the city into a global symbol of entertainment and the American imagination, attracting people from all over the world.
Hollywood is certainly the most iconic part, but in person it appears very different from how it is portrayed in films. It is more touristy, more built around the idea of "Hollywood" itself than around the real life of cinema. At the same time, however, Los Angeles is full of contrasts: enormous residential neighborhoods, artistic areas, beaches, and hills that give the city a very fragmented but interesting identity to explore.
The place I enjoyed most is the Griffith Observatory. Located on the hills above the city, it offers an incredible view of all of Los Angeles, especially at sunset, when the city slowly begins to light up. Beyond the view, the observatory is also a meeting point between science and culture, with exhibitions about the universe and space that make it much more than a simple viewpoint.
Los Angeles was not the city that most captured my heart, but it is certainly one of those that makes you reflect on the gap between imagination and reality.