Standing at the top of the stairs in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you can understand why Sylvester Stallone raised his arms in triumph when he reached this location as the title character in Rocky.
No doubt, he was inspired by the view of the city's grandest street - in addition to his own athletic prowess.
Looking east on the Ben Franklin Parkway, Stallone (and anyone else) would see a triumph in urban planning, a majestic, wide street lined by trees, flags and fountains leading toward Love Park, once a skateboarding mecca, and City Hall, one of the city's most impressive and recognizable buildings.
Named after the city's most famous resident and co-designed by French-born, Beaux-Arts architects Paul Cret and Jacques Gréber (the same team was responsible for the Parkway's Rodin Museum) the Parkway was meant to emulate the grand boulevards of Paris - it's even referred to by some as Philadelphia's Champs Elysees.
Oh, and if you're looking for the Rocky statue filmed in Rocky III and Rocky V, it's no longer at the museum - it has been relocated to the Spectrum sports arena in South Philly. But don't let that stop you from running up the stairs as hundreds of people do each week, much to the chagrin of the PMA. Just remember to turn around, enjoy the view, and take in the many splendors along the Parkway.
Help
66
50
