Among the places of art in Chicago, an unmissable stop on a trip to the USA
June sees the opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Hyde Park, a historic district that according to The New York Times is among the 52 places to visit in 2026
It is the clanking of trains that is the noise that most defines the Loop, the central district of the US city of Chicago. Not because of its intensity, but because of its unusual origin: some public transport lines run on an elevated Loop. From the Loop it takes about twenty minutes, heading southeast, to reach Hyde Park. The New York Times has included this historic and multicultural district in its list of 52 places to visit in 2026. It is here that Barack Obama laid the foundations of his working and political career that led him to become the 44th President of the United States, and it is here that, next June, the Obama Presidential Center is scheduled to open, a centre with a sports field, a museum and a library, a place for events and exhibitions, dedicated to the community and visitors to Chicago.
In the heart of Hyde Park
A world-famous university, independent bookshops, museums and architectural gems coexist in the four square kilometres of Hyde Park, creating a district with a dynamic cultural identity. Strolling through its blocks you can stop at some of the places where this ferment is most alive, such as the University of Chicago, one of the most prestigious research universities in the world. To breathe in some of the stimulating academic air, you can join one of the tours organised occasionally by the Chicago Architecture Center, which allow you to visit the campus and admire the gothic architecture of this institution. Free and open to the public the Smart Museum of Art is a place where art objects seem to converse with visitors, opened to the public in 1974 it is one of the leading academic art museums. The discipline of design boasts one of its greatest expressions in the Robie House, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1910, a building that is counted among the most significant in the history of American architecture. Hyde Park is home to some of the best bookshops in the city, such as 57th Street Books, Seminary Co-op and Powell's Books, which often organise very interesting literature events, a chance to immerse yourself in the community spirit of this neighbourhood. Another place that stimulates curiosity and inspiration is the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, founded in 1933, is one of the largest science museums in the world and offers immersive experiences for all ages. Certainly Barack Obama, who also lived in Hyde Park with his family before moving to the White House, has helped to encourage visitors to visit the museum
orients of the city to explore this neighbourhood, with the opening of the Obama Presidential Center will increase its visibility and cultural vibrancy.
Skyscrapers, museums and legendary hotels
Also making Chicago special is Lake Michigan, one of the five great lakes of North America; about thirty kilometres of shoreline can be travelled on the Lakefront Trail, a scenic footpath from which to observe the city skyline. From Hyde Park, heading back towards the Loop, one comes to Millennium Park, one of the most touristy places because it is home to iconic art installations such as the famous 'bean', The Cloud Gate, the work of British sculptor Anish Kapoor or the Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry, an open-air auditorium where musical events are held. Walking northwards towards Michigan Avenue, after crossing the Chicago River, begins the so-called Magnificent Mile, where the gaze points upwards to admire the skyscrapers that outline the city and define its history. In the windy city, the wind often blows and in winter the temperatures are not very clement, but the city offers plenty of opportunities to take refuge in its museums, such as the Art Institute, home to an art collection spanning centuries and continents, or the Field Museum, the museum of natural history with a collection of almost forty million exhibits. Iconic and luxurious, often housed in historic buildings, some Chicago hotels turn a stay in the city into a memorable experience. Among the most popular addresses are The Alise Chicago, in the heart of the Loop; the legendary Drake Hotel, which has welcomed many famous personalities over time; The Gwen overlooking the Michigan Avenue skyline. What makes Chicago famous at the dinner table is the deep-dish pizza, not a classic pizza, but a kind of pie filled with cheese and topped with tomato sauce. A dish to be sampled in its traditional version at Giordano's or Lou Malnati's: a gastronomic icon that tells of a city surprisingly rich in cultural ferment, art and architecture.
