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I have seen both cities in person numerous times, and have never been all that impressed with Philly's skyline. The city itself is great and is much more historic and urban than Miami. However, purely based on skylines, Miami's is far larger and far prettier. I just flew back into Miami yesterday from Buenos Aires, and Miami's skyline has that WOW factor now that puts it in the elite of skylines.
I have seen both cities in person numerous times, and have never been all that impressed with Philly's skyline. The city itself is great and is much more historic and urban than Miami. However, purely based on skylines, Miami's is far larger and far prettier. I just flew back into Miami yesterday from Buenos Aires, and Miami's skyline has that WOW factor now that puts it in the elite of skylines.
Curious before your arrival in Buenos Aires did you come from an alternate universe?
Miamis skyline is very nice at 4 miles long and 1 block wide. Phillys skyline is varied now spanning 4 centuries at 4 miles long and 1 mile wide.
Ok, the incredible enthusiasm that Philly fans have for their skyline lead me to believe I must have really missed something the times I went to Philadelphia or the thousands of times I looked at pictures. I just can't seem to see how it's so superior in density and beauty to everything on earth. The way you Philly folks talk you would think it's almost dense enough to achieve critical mass and spark a nuclear explosion.
So I decided to look from a different perspective. I scoured youtube for videos of both cities for a comparison. After looking at several homemade films from Philly residents that were god awful I decided to do you all a favor and use video's from Freewayjim for the city. (He's a very good video maker in this category and Philly residents though extremely endeared and passionate about their city seem to all be about the worst video makers I've ever seen. Trust me they don't make you're city look good at all).
So here are some excellent video's of your city taken by Freewayjim. Granted you can't see everything but he uses the same method of filming for all cities so it's fair. Make of them what you will. My opinion? Well I'll just say maybe living in Philly effects your eyesight or perception of reality. Good lookin skyline but just can't see what you're talking about. Anyway here they are.
This attitude perfectly sums up the difference between the cities. In Miami the highways dominate, they are huge, they are in multiple places, they blend in with the ultra-modern construction that came after them. In Philadelphia, they are an afterthought, forced underground, squeezed into the edges around much older buildings. Anyone who has ever sat in Washington Square, strolled down Locust Street, or eaten on the sidewalk on 2nd Street will laugh at the idea of viewing Philadelphia - or any other great colonial city - from a highway.
Now that I have ranted about other posters and music videos, I will explain why I voted for Philly:
The posted shot of Brickell from the water, way back on the first or second page, was striking for its colors, size, and density, but after I had looked at it for about five seconds I felt that all the buildings looked alike and as a skyline - a conglomerate - it lacks character.
This attitude perfectly sums up the difference between the cities. In Miami the highways dominate, they are huge, they are in multiple places, they blend in with the ultra-modern construction that came after them. In Philadelphia, they are an afterthought, forced underground, squeezed into the edges around much older buildings. Anyone who has ever sat in Washington Square, strolled down Locust Street, or eaten on the sidewalk on 2nd Street will laugh at the idea of viewing Philadelphia - or any other great colonial city - from a highway.
Excellent post. Philadelphia is a very impressive city and its skyline architecture is just amazing. Miami is just a different type of city and better compares to resort cities like Honolulu.
I don't know how this is even a debate...MIAMI SKYLINE.
I love the Freedom Tower .
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Excellent post. Philadelphia is a very impressive city and its skyline architecture is just amazing. Miami is just a different type of city and better compares to resort cities like Honolulu.