We are in Tennessee, a land of music and culture, located in the American South (not so deep…!), and today we want to talk about one of the most important cities of the state along with Memphis: the capital Nashville. Nashville is the capital city, but not only of Tennessee: music lovers do not hesitate to call Nashville “Music City”, and in particular country music. Proud of its apt definition (and we’ll see how and why), this large and modern southern-looking city “but not too much” is characterized by the presence of entire neighborhoods teeming with concert venues, themed museums, stores … There are countless live concerts and country music festivals (and more) that brighten up Nashville’s evenings!
But what to see in Nashville? What are the must-see attractions for music lovers and anyone who wants to spend a few good days in the city bathed by the waters of the Cumberland River? By the way… did you know that, besides Boston, Nashville is also called the Athens of America?
We want to answer all these questions with a guide to Nashville that is as complete as possible.
Contents
- Things to do in Nashville: attractions and musical highlights
- Map of Nashville attractions
- Broadway: the Best Bars in Nashville for Live Music!
- Printer’s Alley: the thrill of transgression
- Country Music Hall of Fame and Music Center: a museum in the key of G
- RCA Studio B: this is where history is recorded!
- Ryman Auditorium and The Grand Ole Opry: the temple of country music
- The neoclassical opulence of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
- Nashville City Pass
- Places to visit in Nashville: Attractions and Landmarks
- The climate of Nashville
- Where to Stay in Nashville?
Things to do in Nashville: attractions and musical highlights
If you are planning to visit Nashville, there are many chances that you will want to do so to get in touch with its very rich musical heritage. As we said, this is the capital of country music, and not surprisingly there are many musical sights to see., or should I say experience, since some of the city streets, of which it is impossible not to mention Broadway, literally exist for music, which is the real connective tissue.
Map of Nashville attractions
Broadway: the Best Bars in Nashville for Live Music!
Some may object that taking an evening stroll down Broadway in Nashville is touristy stuff…. well, ignore it! Take Riverfront Park as a point of reference (great for a walk along the river), and, leaving the river behind, immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere that you can breathe in along the famous, crowded street that houses real institutions such as the Tootsie Wild Orchid Lounge or the Honky Tonk Central, a three-floor club on each of which a different band plays.
But that’s just the beginning! Look around, and you’ll notice that music is coming out of every single Honky-tonk bar, and the walls vibrate to the rhythm of some addictive drum beat. If they are not bars (like the famous and historic Layla Bluegrass Inn and Legends Corner) they are record or bookstores that at night turn into delirious and ramshackle concert halls, where there is never a shortage of artists playing.
A case in point is Robert’s Western World, where you can sip a beer while flipping through boxes of vinyl and moving your head to the rhythm of music. These are just a few of Broadway’s top venues, but it’s all about walking down the sidewalks and being intrigued by the countless music-themed storefronts and signs, or taking a picture with a life-size statue of Elvis…
Printer’s Alley: the thrill of transgression
The fame of this other street in Downtown is not only due to the fact that two important newspapers were located here (as the name would suggest), but especially because, since the police control was less suffocating, liquor and spirits were sold and consumed illegally in the places of the area.
Did you know that here in Nashville and throughout Tennessee, the sale of alcohol was banned until 1968? Today, Printer’s Alley is an area full of jazz clubs, blues clubs, restaurants and concert halls that are a little more upscale, but going there has the kind of underground, transgressive vibe that was the order of the day until 50 years ago.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Music Center: a museum in the key of G
Not everyone likes museum showcases, full of historical relics and useless junk, but the Country Music Hall of Fame and Music Center (5th Ave S) is a place of true religion of country music from the late nineteenth century until the thirties and so on until today: there are guitars and musical instruments of all kinds, clothes and costumes, sheet music, vinyl, posters, vintage photos of all the big names of the country music scene.
From Elvis Presley (whose Cadillac and gold piano are on display) to Jerry Lee Lewis and Patsy Cline, from Neil Young to Johnny Cash (to whom the Johnny Cash Museum, at 119 3rd Ave S, is also dedicated), these are some of the names of the absolute protagonists of the various exhibitions in this modern and well-kept temple of music…. built in the shape of the key of G, even if from the outside you might not realize.
RCA Studio B: this is where history is recorded!
Your admission ticket can also include (about $40 instead of $25) a guided tour of RCA Studio B (1611 Roy Acuff Pl). The tour lasts one hour and starts from the sidewalk adjacent to the Music Hall: the unmistakable blue bus takes you into the cramped space of the recording studio where Elvis and many others recorded their masterpieces. The guide is slim but comprehensive, and no one will take away the thrill of seeing Elvis the Pelvis ‘ black piano and hearing his voice in the place where he started what is now rock music…
Ryman Auditorium and The Grand Ole Opry: the temple of country music
If you’re here for the music, you absolutely cannot leave Nashville without visiting the historic Ryman Auditorium (730 Royal Pkwy), a mecca of sorts for all country and bluegrass lovers. Located just a stone’s throw from the monumental Bridgestone Arena (on Broadway), this building, so architecturally similar to a cathedral (and it is, by the way, but for country music!) will not have much to say to you, if you do not already know that some of the most important singers, artists and musicians related to the universe of country-bluegrass and other genres (folk, blues and r’n’r…) have passed through here.
But above all, the Ryman Auditorium was for years the home of Nashville’s radio show-program The Grand Ole Opry, which is still on air today. Inside the Ryman Auditorium, in addition to the concert hall, there are exhibitions and displays that tell the story of country music related to Nashville, but be aware that, to see The Grand Ole Opry on stage you will have to take the car and move away from the center to the suburbs known as Music Valley. It is here, in the Grand Ole Opry House (2804 Opryland Drive), that you can enjoy the show today, alas a bit far from the historic site but following the original formula.
The neoclassical opulence of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Finally, a building that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with country: the Schermerhorn Symphony Center (1 Symphony Place). Built in the neoclassical style in the early years of the new millennium, this theater with its wonderful acoustics is home to the Nashville Orchestra, but also has an eclectic program: in fact, the program includes Mozart, Prokofiev and so on.
Nashville City Pass
There are many things to see in Nashville, especially when it comes to music-themed attractions. If you don’t want to miss out on any of the aforementioned sights, you can save money on admission fees by purchasing the Nashville Sightseeing Pass, a pass that will blow the minds of all country music lovers traveling to Nashville. For a reasonable fee, you can gain access to a lot of attractions, while also taking advantage of some discounts.
Places to visit in Nashville: Attractions and Landmarks
What to do in Nashville if you’re not a country music expert or fan? Well, as we have mentioned, Nashville, among other things, has a special connection with Greek architecture and Athens. This is all without a doubt due to the peculiarities of Centennial Park….
Centennial Park, the acropolis of Nashville
On its own, wandering through the shady alleys of Centennial Park (West End Ave) may not excite you much: sure, it’s nice to stop and rest your eyes from the music of Broadway and gaze at the banks of the artificial pond, but this happens in every great American urban park.
What will leave you speechless, however, is the faithful reproduction of the Parthenon that is at the center of this green space, a bit ‘off-center: you will not be at the top of the Acropolis of Athens, but being in front of a colossal Greek temple in the capital of Tennessee has a certain effect!
Capitol Hill and War Memorial: Traces of History
Both the Tennessee State Capitol and the adjoining War Memorial in Nashville respond in turn to neoclassical architectural criteria, especially the latter, dedicated to the fallen of all the wars that have involved the country, not least the Civil War, of which Nashville was an important stage. The building, with its mighty and severe Doric columns, houses a statue symbolizing Victory, located austerely in the center of the central atrium.
We must also mention Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park: the park has a slightly formal air and, among fountains, colonnades and amphitheaters, intends to awkwardly emulate Athens. However, you can sit on one of the benches and read what’s written on the memorial plaques, perhaps eating the lunch you’ve bought from the Nashville Farmer’s Market (900 Rosa L Parks Blvd), a stone’s throw from these leafy driveways.
Andrew Jackson Hermitage: home of the president
Outside the Capitol we find a statue in memory of President Andrew Jackson, a key figure in American and Tennessee history, especially in the clashes during the war with England in the early 1800s. A classic out-of-town excursion (4580 Rachels Ln, Hermitage) is a visit to his plantation manor house, called Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, if only to understand what slave labor conditions were like.
Cumberland River Pedestrian Bridge
This is a must, if you want to enjoy a beautiful view of the Nashville skyline, which cleverly combines the high skyscrapers (with the one belonging to the telephone company AT&T standing out) and some Victorian-style buildings of Downtown and on the riverfront.
Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens
In the Music Valley, not far from the current home of The Grand Ole Opry, there is also the Gaylord Opryland Resort Gardens (2800 Opryland Dr), a sort of resort-garden-city-park with a naturalistic yet futuristic concept. Maybe you need to go there to understand that definitions are of little use here!
The climate of Nashville
Nashville’s climate is humid sub-tropical, characterized by very hot summers (between 75 and 95 °F) and winters that are not harsh, with temperatures rarely dropping below zero, settling at an average of 40-50 °F. As in the whole state, Nashville is often targeted by long and frequent rainfalls.
Where to Stay in Nashville?
Apart from a few special cases, including the aforementioned Gaylord Opryland Resort in the Opryland Area, it is better to look for accommodation in the center, where all the main attractions are and you can enjoy a night of beers and live concerts. Most of the best and most strategic hotels in Nashville are in fact located in the downtown districts: Downtown, Broadway, Music Row (where the contemporary music scene gathers) and Vanderbilt, the university area.
