CHICAGO

In a downtown bar an old blues singer with a husky voice sings the tune ‘Sweet Home Chicago’. Released in 1936, the Robert Johnson standard, since covered by the biggest names in music, is a tribute to this timeless and friendly city. Birthplace of the ‘Chicago Blues’ and a world capital of jazz, the city is full of legendary clubs such as the Green Mill, where Al Capone hung out, which draws as many tourists as the city's many historical monuments, and where the presence of Louis Armstrong, who played here early on in his career, still permeates the atmosphere. Besides its strong musical identity, Chicago shines worldwide for its majestic architecture. In The Loop, the business district and cultural centre, red brick skyscrapers jostle for attention alongside contemporary towers and buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry and Renzo Piano. These and other architectural treasures are best viewed by taking the rapid transit system, nicknamed the ‘El’ by the locals, a Chicago landmark. Equally magnificent, and very popular among tourists, is the famous boat cruise along the Chicago River, which offers spectacular panoramas of the city. A true cultural getaway with 40 museums, including the world renowned Art Institute of Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States can also be enjoyed strolling through one of its incredible parks, such as Millennium Park, a veritable open-air art gallery. The warm water of Lake Michigan is a big summertime draw, and a string of sandy beaches stretching as far as the eye can see – 33 in the city centre alone – attracts huge crowds.