CITIES & LANDMARKS San Francisco WARM-UP Dividetevi a coppie e indovinate quali di queste attrazioni/ località si trovano in California. Fate una ricerca per scoprire dove si trovano le altre. WRITING SPEAKING PAIR WORK Empire State Building Malibù Cape Canaveral Space Station Disneyworld Beverly Hills Hollywood Las Vegas Disneyland Yosemite Park The White House 32 San Francisco is a commercial, cultural and financial centre in Northern California located in the famous Bay. It is a popular international tourist destination known for its summer fog , steep , rolling hills, the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and cable cars . Because of its elegant mix of Victorian and modern architecture it is known as the Paris of the West. San Francisco is also small but mighty : big in terms of attractions but geographically small only 79 square kilometres. The history of the city Originally, San Francisco was a Spanish (then Mexican) mission called Yerba Buena after the herb of the same name that grew in abundance there. It was then conquered by the United States in 1846 and the Gold Rush turned San Francisco into a cosmopolitan metropolis in a very short time. In 1906 a tremendous earthquake destroyed most of the city, but it was quickly rebuilt and in the 20th century it became a centre of wealth , progressive culture and high technology. 72 Five things not to miss San Francisco offers various experiences: iconic views, historical neighbourhoods , fashion shops, museums and wildlife (you can t miss the sea lions on legendary pier 39). These are some of the most popular. Take a walk along the pedestrian walkway over the Golden Gate Bridge, the most famous bridge in the world, with its stunning 2.7 kilometres-span and one of the most photographed things on Earth. Ride a cable car, the main transport of San Francisco since 19th century. The cars run on tracks and are moved by an underground cable; their bells can be heard ringing everywhere in the city. Visit Alcatraz, or The Rock , the famous prison located on an island in the middle of the Bay. The prison was closed in the 1960s and stories about Alcatraz and the criminals imprisoned there are legendary. Explore The Mission, San Francisco s oldest neighborhood with a strong Latino culture founded in 1776. Many visitors go there to admire the murals on the walls of buildings. Enjoy sea wildlife. Take a boat ride around Stow Lake, where you can see different bird species and turtles or visit the amazing San Francisco Zoo, Gardens and Aquarium of the Bay. GLOSSARY cable car: funivia to conquer: conquistare earthquake: terremoto fog: nebbia Gold Rush: corsa all oro mighty: potente neighbourhood: quartiere pier: molo prospector: cercatore d oro rolling: dolce (non ripido) span: arcata steep: ripido track: pista walkway: passerella wealth: ricchezza wildlife: natura