New Rochelle is a city in Westchester County in New York. It is the home of Iona College.
New Rochelle was founded by Huguenot refugees from persecution in France and named after La Rochelle. Huguenot Street is today one of the main streets in the city, and the fleur de lis is the city's symbol; you can see colorful plastic fleur de lis sculptures on several streets in Downtown New Rochelle. The city is only a little beyond the northeasternmost reaches of the Bronx and reachable from there by bus, car and commuter train, but it has its own character. It is an ethnically diverse city with many private houses, low-rise brick buildings, some pretty churches, classic mid-19th-century to Art Deco commercial and office buildings Downtown, the neo-Gothic buildings of the former College of New Rochelle and some secondary schools, an increasing number of modern high-rises, upscale cafes and inexpensive shops and taquerias.
- Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 15 Shea Place (Corner of Centre Ave, +1 914-632 - 3700. This sizable Catholic church is a historic neo-Gothic building, completed in 1897, with a tall spire that can be seen for some distance. Outside the front of the church is a statue of Jesus with his hands upraised to bless passersby. Inside the church are fine stained glass windows. In the yard to the right of the front doors is a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes.
- Mercy College, New Rochelle, 29 Castle Place, +1 877-MERCY-GO. The College of St. Angela, as it was known from its founding in 1904 until it became College of New Rochelle in 1910, was the first Catholic women's college established in New York State. It is now a coeducational institution and since Fall 2019, part of Mercy College. The campus is pleasant and full of neo-Gothic buildings. Unless you are visiting for professional reasons or to consider attending, it probably isn't worth a huge detour, but if it's not out of your way, it is a nice sight to see, especially in April and May when many trees and bushes are in bloom. Toward the southern end of the campus, there is a building with a very peaceful though relatively plain chapel, with very nice paintings of the Stations of the Cross.
- Davenport Park.
- Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, 20 Sicard Ave, +1 914-633-1776. Open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10AM-5PM. Admission $5.
- Trinity Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 311 Huguenot St (At Division St, +1-914-632-5368. This medium-sized church and the adjoining Parish House are quite pleasant neo-Gothic buildings, and they are very close to the train station, so it's quite worthwhile to walk past them if you are traveling on foot from the station. If you can get inside, you will have a chance to see beautiful stained glass windows in the very pretty sanctuary. The church is usually open only on Wednesdays, Sundays and church holidays.
Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 15 Shea Place (Corner of Centre Ave, +1 914-632 - 3700. This sizable Catholic church is a historic neo-Gothic building, completed in 1897, with a tall spire that can be seen for some distance. Outside the front of the church is a statue of Jesus with his hands upraised to bless passersby. Inside the church are fine stained glass windows. In the yard to the right of the front doors is a replica of the Grotto of Lourdes.
Mercy College, New Rochelle, 29 Castle Place, +1 877-MERCY-GO. The College of St. Angela, as it was known from its founding in 1904 until it became College of New Rochelle in 1910, was the first Catholic women's college established in New York State. It is now a coeducational institution and since Fall 2019, part of Mercy College. The campus is pleasant and full of neo-Gothic buildings. Unless you are visiting for professional reasons or to consider attending, it probably isn't worth a huge detour, but if it's not out of your way, it is a nice sight to see, especially in April and May when many trees and bushes are in bloom. Toward the southern end of the campus, there is a building with a very peaceful though relatively plain chapel, with very nice paintings of the Stations of the Cross.
Davenport Park.
Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, 20 Sicard Ave, +1 914-633-1776. Open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10AM-5PM. Admission $5.
Trinity Saint Paul's Episcopal Church, 311 Huguenot St (At Division St, +1-914-632-5368. This medium-sized church and the adjoining Parish House are quite pleasant neo-Gothic buildings, and they are very close to the train station, so it's quite worthwhile to walk past them if you are traveling on foot from the station. If you can get inside, you will have a chance to see beautiful stained glass windows in the very pretty sanctuary. The church is usually open only on Wednesdays, Sundays and church holidays.
- Squiggy's Dugout, 237 Main St, +1 914 636-7585. Exemplary comic and card retailer. Owner (used to?) teach appraisal classes at New Rochelle Library.
- Lieb's Greenhouses, 1 Askins Pl. Pleasant set of greenhouses, nurseries and garden. Be sure to find the moated gazebo in the rear and cross its bridge.
Squiggy's Dugout, 237 Main St, +1 914 636-7585. Exemplary comic and card retailer. Owner (used to?) teach appraisal classes at New Rochelle Library.
Lieb's Greenhouses, 1 Askins Pl. Pleasant set of greenhouses, nurseries and garden. Be sure to find the moated gazebo in the rear and cross its bridge.
- R Cafe & Tea Boutique, 302 Huguenot St (Between Division St and Centre Ave, +1 914-358-1841. Daily, 7 am - 7 pm. Serious coffee, very tasty tea and pastries from Balthazar Bakery 2 1/2 blocks from the train station. The atmosphere is relaxing and they play nice Latin music on their sound system. They will ice any kind of tea for you. The rooibos is excellent. Pastries $1.45-6.00; tea $8.00/pot; coffee $1.50-5:50 except for large quantities of coffee for brewing at home. All teas $4.50/cup to go.
R Cafe & Tea Boutique, 302 Huguenot St (Between Division St and Centre Ave, +1 914-358-1841. Daily, 7 am - 7 pm. Serious coffee, very tasty tea and pastries from Balthazar Bakery 2 1/2 blocks from the train station. The atmosphere is relaxing and they play nice Latin music on their sound system. They will ice any kind of tea for you. The rooibos is excellent. Pastries $1.45-6.00; tea $8.00/pot; coffee $1.50-5:50 except for large quantities of coffee for brewing at home. All teas $4.50/cup to go.
New York City or nearby Long Island Sound towns in Westchester County like Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Rye.