Audio Guide: Savannah Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Savannah

Savannah may not be the whole of Sweet Georgia, but no Georgia is complete without Savannah, that's for sure.

This coastal city is named after the river upon which it stands, whose name is likely to be the variant pronunciation of “Shawnee”, the Native American tribe which inhabited the area in the 1680s. Alternatively, it could have derived from the Spanish “sabana”, referring to the extensive marshlands surrounding the river.

Founded in 1733, Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia, and initially it served as the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia, which later became a U.S. state. A strategic port in the American Revolution and during the Civil War, Savannah grew quite prosperous during the 19th century.

Its large population of oak trees, widely used in shipbuilding in the 1800s, earned Savannah the nickname, "Forest City". Another title that is still widely applied to it, the "Hostess City of the South," pays tribute to Savannah's epitomizing the American South.

Nowadays an important industrial center and Atlantic seaport, Savannah attracts millions of visitors each year. The city center, one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the U.S., is renowned for its antebellum architecture, horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone squares, and manicured parks, including Forsyth Park, shaded by oak trees covered in Spanish moss.

Home to one of the main local landmarks, such as the Gothic-Revival Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the picturesque historic district of Savannah is filled with numerous historic buildings, such as the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences (which is one of the first public museums in the American South), the First African Baptist Church (one of the oldest African-American Baptist congregations in the United States) and more.

To explore these and other attractions of the city reputed for its Southern charm and hospitality, follow our introductory walk and get an ultimate experience of Savannah, Georgia!