Getting Oriented

The narrow Providence River cuts through the city's downtown from north to south. West of the river lies the compact business district. A largely Italian neighborhood, Federal Hill, pushes west from here along Atwells Avenue. On the north side of downtown is the white-marble capitol. South Main and Benefit streets run parallel to the river, on the East Side. College Hill constitutes the western half of the East Side. At the top of College Hill, the area's primary thoroughfare, Thayer Street, runs north to south. Don't confuse East Providence, a city unto itself, with Providence's East Side.