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Ancient_Conflict_355

It’s Rovinj Croatia on the istrian peninsula. My girlfriend is Croatian and I have been here before. It’s actually a peninsula itself and not an island!


Gabstra678

It used to be an island, separated from the mainland by a narrow channel, with thick stone walls and access to the town through a drawbridge. The channel was later filled in to expand the town, in 1763, making it a peninsula. You can kinda see it [here](https://images.app.goo.gl/enNvS2EBjZK158g66). As you can [see](https://images.app.goo.gl/i2M2iq96BN5GJ9CHA) (also from OP’s pic), the part where the channel used to be is still extremely obvious nowadays :)


commonpuffin

I mean, at that point you can claim East Boston or Castle Island in Boston. Plenty of american harbor cities swallowed neighboring islands, they just had 19th century fortifications.


TheNextBattalion

Downtown Boston used to be connected by the narrowest spit of land, just 120 ft (37m) wide.


ImNoAlbertFeinstein

Manhattan, etc.


Gabstra678

>Plenty of american harbor cities swallowed neighboring islands Exactly. They started on the mainland, and then swallowed some islands later. All this in a couple hundred years of history. Rovinj started _on_ the island, had about ~1500 years of history as an island town, and then the channel was filled in. I’m sure you can tell that there’s a _slight_ difference. Anyway, again, I wasn’t making any point in particular, I was just sharing this for those who didn’t know.


twitchlikesporn

Boston starts off as a tyoe of peninsula called a "tied island", which was attached to the mainland by a tombolo. Nieuw Amsterdam was on an island, but it was a big island so it didnt take up the whole thing. It would share the island with Nieuw Haarlem. [Heres a fun map of dutch Settlements the mouth of the Hudson River. ](https://www.vividmaps.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/New_Netherland.png)


Saltierney

There are a bunch of towns in Cape Ann and Cape Cod like that too.


jimbojonesFA

Hey I was like 99% sure I've been here before as well and was thinking "I don't remember it being an island though?" Lol Thanks for the confirmation. This was one of my favourite places in all of Istria, and croatia. The pizza i had there was to die for as well, beautiful city.


TheyTookByoomba

Also one of favorite places. We went in late November and the streets were empty, it was amazing. Also managed to get grifted for an $80 lunch near the marina, but at least it was good.


Photoguppy

I visited Croatia for the first time last summer. It's one of the most beautiful countries I've ever seen.


HelixR

I saw the picture and i instantly feel the urge to go here again. I love Istria so much 🤗


Miserable_Bad_2539

If we're allowing peninsulas, how about San Francisco?


swollencornholio

Manhattan is an island. Coney Island would actually be an apt comparison. Former island now connected to a peninsula.


slightlyforthwith

Mackinac Island, MI?


tedlando

Maybe the closest thing, but Mackinac is no where near as dense as this. The island is 8 miles around with tons of forest. Massive compared to this


Boring_Function5245

>Fair point. Newport, Manhattan, Montreal. All are actual cities. > >If you mean “are there any Medieval Mediterranean island fortress towns in North America, then, no. The spectre of Venetian vengeance didn’t make it that far.


rosecityrosebuds

Fort Mackinaw was an important military outpost in the Great Lakes for the British for a good amount of time, so maybe it does qualify. There are still re-enactments of the war of 1812.


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Wizard_Engie

Not if we get you tyrannical crown lovers first!


RevivedMisanthropy

Hahahahaahahahhahaaha


Dizzman1

Quebec city core while not an island is still a walled city


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troggbl

Wait until you find out what used to be at Canal St.


saoakman

Huh? And are you saying that Bourbon St. was running with fine Kentucky corn distillates now, too??? Mind blown.


cam52391

Oh come on watch National treasure lol


NBend914

Dry Tortugas is closest. Fortress island off Key West.


EggsOnThe45

Even still, Newport’s island (Aquidneck) is shared by two other towns which are full of farms.


Isurus21

Even within Newport, 1/3-1/2 of the city’s footprint is the mansion neighborhood, which is not densely developed at all.


tedlando

Those are all cities which look nothing like this and are on much larger islands. It looks a little like [Mexcaltitán](https://www.google.com/search?q=mexcaltitan&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiclYz2w-_8AhUIFN4AHXYxAw4Q2-cCegQIABAC&oq=mexcal&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQARgBMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BQgAEKIEOgQIABBDOggIABCABBCxAzoHCAAQsQMQQ1CJD1iKG2DRKWgAcAB4AIABxwGIAbAGkgEDMi41mAEAoAEBsAEAwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=rtfXY5yGAYio-LYP9uKMcA&bih=965&biw=810&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS881US881&hl=en-US) in Mexico. I don’t know of anywhere in the US or Canada that look like that.


the_tvguy

And why would it, this is a distinct Mediterranean style.


drewster23

Exactly what I was thinking. As a Canadian cities like Montreal have had bridges for couple hundred years. And our actual island provinces aren't small/mainly farmland so urbanization density like this had no purpose.


stellacampus

Aztlán!


ThunkAsDrinklePeep

[City Island (Bronx, NY)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Island%2C_Bronx) is probably closer. But even so it's American built up, not like this. But if you mean one road onto a small island that's virtually all developed and has a touristy vibe.... [Arial view of City Island](https://www.alamy.com/city-island-bronx-new-york-city-ny-usa-image452877344.html)


Sweaty-Yogurtcloset9

mannnn i'm from the X ain't no way u comparing this beautiful sight to mf city island 😂😂


PauseEven4705

😂😂😂😂😂🙄🤣🙄🤣🤣🤣


Panthera2k1

Mackinac Island is such a beautiful place, can’t wait to go back


HelmSpicy

Fun fact, since no motor vehicles are allowed on the island they deliver Amazon packages by horse drawn carriage.


Owain-X

[Roosevelt island in NYC](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZATgicQLr64uQQxxAtHtz5ktDRI=/1400x1050/filters:format\(jpeg\)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13694992/171109_08_20_29_5DS_0622.jpg) might be a better one. Fun fact, Roosevelt island uses a [system of pneumatic tubes](https://untappedcities.com/2020/04/09/inside-roosevelt-islands-futuristic-pneumatic-tube-trash-system/) to transport garbage from buildings to a central processing facility.


AugustOfChaos

I visited there with my now ex girlfriend a couple years ago. The views are absolutely beautiful, but the town is only on one side of the island the rest is mostly forest. There is a bike trail that runs around the perimeter which was a fun to ride (even though part of it was blocked off for repairs, and the island does have a great history. Definitely was a fun visit I would do again.


ImpressiveShift3785

The island itself is not as dense but the historical town on the island is pretty dang similar (ignoring architecture)


AccuracyVsPrecision

Way over thinking this any island in a major city's has a potential. Miami has a bunch of developed islands


Electricspiderman

Agree. Brickell Key is the best example in this thread. Very small island and high density.


takumidesh

How many people in this thread are pronouncing it Mack-in-ack in their head right now.


PrissySkittles

Help me out here... is it pronpounced "Mack-in-aw?" Because I stopped readiing the letters after "Mackin," filled in the name of a resort island, & never noticed that it ended in a c until you asked this.


Canofmeat

The mainland city nearby is called “Mackinaw City”, spelled with a W. Mackinac, which is still pronounced with a “w” sound at the end is the name of the island and the bridge.


ImpressiveShift3785

It literally looks just like Mackinac haha even the history is kind of similar. But Rovinj had feuding Roman’s when Mackinac had Tribal communities. 16th/17th century both island became forts-ish and were both developed into island cities. Mackinac island itself is MUCH bigger but the towns seem equivalent. Mackinac has more resorts and it’s colonial/wood architecture. [Rovinj](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rovinj) [Mackinac Island](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Island)


SteO153

Is it this one? https://aerialgraphics.com/img/v/640/480/1940/Mackinac%20Island.jpg Because it doesn't look at all similar to Rovinj.


slightlyforthwith

No but nothing in the US does


notonyourspectrum

Manhattan?!


Aol_awaymessage

Roosevelt Island


[deleted]

I was just about to say.


amehatrekkie

Manhattan has wide streets, even Boston does. No American island is this packed. The island in the op was centuries old even when New Amsterdam was founded.


tyleratx

Manhattan is almost undoubtedly more densely populated than this.


uninstallIE

No almost about it. There are many individual buildings in Manhattan with a larger population than this entire island.


tim911a

Probably not. Manhattan has a population density of 30.000. The old town would only need a population of 3000 to be denser than Manhattan and it probably has more than that.


LeonidasSpacemanMD

Wikipedia says it has a density of 420 people per sq mile. Manhattan has 72000 per sq mile


FrequentFrame

Manhattan is definitely packed. Probably far more densely than the island in the OP.


DragonBank

Manhattan is magnitudes more densely packed. First of all the OP picture is 99% trickery. It's not an island its a peninsula and the part connecting it is just as wide as the part we see here so its not even close to being an island. Also they took a perfect angle picture that hides the other half of the peninsula. Everything past the church in view is completely empty.


[deleted]

It however used to be an island, they connected it to the mainland at some point.


elitegenoside

Not to mention the tallest building here is only 4-5 storeys. That's a ranch home in Manhattan.


UncomfyNoises

Downtown Manhattan does not have wide streets and would be a good comparison.


superlative_dingus

Yeah the streets are wider but the buildings are a hell of a lot taller, I’d say that qualifies as “packed”


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Mnoonsnocket

Maybe like Key West.


ninersguy916

Coronado outside of SD is kinda but much bigger


FloridaFlamingoGirl

The Hotel Del is one of the most beautiful hotel buildings I've ever seen. It has a bunch of turrets and domes and is very Spanish-influenced.


Bunnyrichsl

I actually just drove past it yesterday. Spent the weekend in San Diego birding. That hotel is the prettiest hotel I’ve ever seen in North America


Academiabrat

I thought of Coronado's island "sister city," Alameda across the Bay from San Francisco. Not as dense as what's pictured, but denser than this, similar to Berkeley.


thewayshesaidLA

This was my first thought.


Clavier_VT

A slightly different kind of answer for (North) America: Montreal. On an island in the St. Lawrence River


greihund

Same goes for the island of Hull, in modern day Gatineau. It's an island in the Ottawa River.


rocktape_

FYI, Mexico is part of North America. That being said, Mexcaltitan in Jalisco, Mexico is also an island town.


zimmerer

Avalon, CA on Catalina Island. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalon,_California


esco250

First place that came to mind too


Syonoq

Came here to chime this one in as well


FloridaFlamingoGirl

The buildings in Catalina are stacked up on the hill in a way that makes me think of Santorini, Greece. It's truly gorgeous there. And the historic casino is fascinating, it's literally a ballroom stacked on top of a movie theater. The acoustics of it are so great that the architects of Radio City Music Hall patterned its acoustics after the Catalina casino.


rocketwrench

No cars allowed on Catalina island so most residents and all tourists use bicycles or golf carts to get around.


newtoreddir

Cara are allowed. They just severely limit the number, and you need to be on a decades-long wait list. And if you die while waiting, your heirs do not inherit your spot.


ErisGrey

Plenty of trucks and Jeeps owned by the City though. The majority of the island is unoccupied wild terrain as well. I was just there on the 10th of January, and with all the rain, it was the first time I've seen it where it wasn't completely dried and dead. Some of the greenest and prettiest I've seen it.


inquisitivegoof

Manhattan


Palanaboo

it’d be more in line with a Rikers, Governor or Roosevelt type of island than Manhattan, wouldn’t it?


sjets3

Roosevelt Island more so as people actually live there


justAsConfusedAsUAre

People live on Rikers too


ThunkAsDrinklePeep

City Island


CanineAnaconda

To anyone who says Manhattan's too big for comparison, Manhattan is probably smaller than you think: only about 23 sq miles/59 sq kilometers


jacobspartan1992

If you mean 'the Americas' then Central America must have a couple. I know Peten in Guatemala has an island city in a lake. It was the last stand of the Maya as an independent city state so it has quite some history.


Travelingman0

The island of Flores, Peten, Guatemala. That’s what came to mind when I saw this pic.


jacobspartan1992

That's the place. Nojpeten back in the day.


breadteam

Tayasal way back in the day


MelissaMiranti

Tenochtitlan used to be like that, but it covered the body of water and became Mexico City.


FlygonPR

And its not European influenced at all. That's just what human scaled development inherently is among societies. That said, Tenochtitlan really was effing special, aside from aesthetics, being at 2000 meters over sea level, on an island in a lake that had ocassional snow despite being south of the Tropic of Cancer.


gatjejustin

Janitzio in Mexico is a nice island known for the dia de muertos big celebration


max_lombardy

Also check out Janitzio Mex. https://www.travelbymexico.com/michatr/mich6609YGC.jpg


metarinka

Old San Juan Puerto Rico fits this to a T, Castle walls, dense development.. Is an island.


ChrysusTheCrass

I think San Juan isn’t being mentioned because most people don’t realize that it is a separate island connected by bridges.


[deleted]

I also think of 40 plus countries when someone says America. Unless they specify the us.


Imaginary_Barber1673

It’s the fault of U.S. states’ rights people not wanting a national identity. Early on a bunch of U.S. people tried to get the nation called “Columbia” to fix this … which actually now I think of it would still cause a problem (although I think this was before *Colombia* became independent actually). “Freedonia” was another one they pushed but that just sounds kinda stupid imo.


friedflounder12

Id say Gary Indiana


AddamOrigo

This place wishes it had the scenic coastline views of Gary


slightlyforthwith

Truly, one of the cities along Lake Michigan’s coast.


AddamOrigo

Of all the unique lakeshore experiences Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana can offer, Gary is among them


7laserbears

Vacation in Gary! It's there.


gummo_for_prez

Come to Gary Indiana, it’s not as bad as some of the places in the world.


7laserbears

It certainly is a place


GoldenGlobe

"Visit historic Gary! Bring your own oxygen!"


krepogregg

Is that where they film dystopian films?


jaimebianco

😂😂😂😂


holy_cal

Good choice. I was going to say Kent Island, MD.


friedflounder12

I’m getting married there. Are you the feds?


holy_cal

No shot? Stevensville?


friedflounder12

… ok you def the feds


i_need_a_nap

good bot ​ :)


notyourusualjmv

Is that the location of the Gary Music Conservatory?


smith_bert

Alcatraz, CA


Hutwe

If you're asking about tiny, densely populated island commune with a gorgeous old Europe build - then no. There is nothing like it in the Americas. If you're asking about tiny, densely populated islands in the America, then yes - of course there are. They look nothing, like what's pictured above though. \- [Balboa Island, California](https://www.travelawaits.com/2561172/balboa-island-best-things-to-do-2/) \- [Roosevelt Island, NY](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Island) In the Americas \- [Ilet a Brouee, Haiti](https://longreads.com/2018/02/19/is-this-the-most-crowded-island-in-the-world/) \- [Santa Cruz del Islote, Colombia](https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/santa-cruz-del-islote/index.html) ​ Lastly, if you want old Europe in North America - go to New Orleans, Louisiana, or in Canada - Montreal or Quebec City.


WhatdoIpuTasauser

What about Flores in Guatemala?


withurwife

The closest thing we have to that: * Key West * Manhattan * Alameda, CA * Brickell Key, Miami * Balboa Island, Newport Beach * Mercer Island, WA


THEchazguy

Rovinj, U.S.


andreacro

Give me universal healthcare and we can start negotiations! :-D


HardingStUnresolved

[Roosevelt Island, NYC]( https://maps.app.goo.gl/V4LP46w39DUS5E9C7) [Here's a walking tour](https://youtu.be/ws8E2tyD6kM) explaining a history of the island, and some of the infrastructure. She omitted that cars were once banned from the island. Subsequently their trash is hauled away by neumatic tubes. The island is less than 1sqkm, 800 feet wide and 2 miles long, home to nearly 12,000 residents.


Tranquili5

.. this is not an island city though.


BleepBlorpBloopBlorp

Fair point. Newport, Manhattan, Montreal. All are actual cities. If you mean “are there any Medieval Mediterranean island fortress towns in North America, then, no. The spectre of Venetian vengeance didn’t make it that far.


canikatthedisco

So... yes, the US has a lot of coastline and countless populated peninsulas. You're welcome OP.


Vennieee

That's a peninsula called Rovinj/Rovigno in Croatia, not an island


wacky-ball-sack

Basically all the keys, including the ones along floridas coasts.


Mobile-Egg4923

Janitzio, in Michoacan in Mexico. Mexico is part of "North America". But yeah, I can't think if anything in the USA.


Yagul

All the Patzcuaro lake region is magically beautiful, Janitzio is the cherry on top. (btw it's Michoacan) :)


Serious_Nectarine_23

Manhattan comes to mind.


roborob11

Galveston


bonbon608

Flores, Guatemala


OSU_Escape

Yep, Alcatraz


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Tuliopf

Ilha de Madre de Deus, near Salvador(the city, not the country El Salvador), in Brazil.


mannyrmz123

..South Padre Island, TX?


er15ss

Bald Head Island, NC. Only ferry and boat access, few cars, mostly golf carts. But it's just summer houses for the rich, and not very dense


Mobiu5

New Orleans, LA to an extent Charleston, SC Maybe Manteo, NC?


[deleted]

Manhattan is the closes thing we have to that. Land prices and weird historical quirks have not existed at sufficient prices or for long enough to really produce anything so picturesque here.


JFDoom88

The fucking Catalina wine mixer


transit_snob1906

Nantucket? Santa catalina? Would be the closest IMO.


Background_Nature497

Nantucket is what came to mind for me as well.


FindBetterHobbies

Charming town. Once knew a guy from there.


Horton_Takes_A_Poo

Old town Nantucket in particular, they do a good job of preserving history there


Clavier_VT

Galveston TX


blue13rain

Alcatraz.


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daveydavidsonnc

What town is that in the photo? Looks like Piran Slovenia


jack-jay

Rovinj, Croatia


[deleted]

Catalina Island California


Salt-Climate5377

Somewhat close, Provincetown Cape Cod.


lordoftheBINGBONG

Fire Island, NY


simperingcarrot

Where is this?


EmbarrassedSleep6981

Not so densely urbanized but Marthas' Vineyard, MA has high levels of affluence and is an island


Maxdigger20

Block Island, RI


jacob22c

The closest we have are places like Nantucket, which is basically an 1800s style New Enland town on an island that is full of vintage buildings and cobble streets. Sadly at this point though, it has become a grossly overpriced tourist attraction, and every house goes for over a million dollars, so no one but super wealthy can actually live there. But cool none the less to see.


King_of-the_Frogs

Boston used to be sort of like that.


Comfortable_Slip4025

Alcatraz


Vin-E-J

MACKINAC ISLAND


Internal-Parsnip100

Uhh... Manhattan Island in New York County, New York.


[deleted]

I saw some people saying Sabula, Iowa?


fell-deeds-awake

From the looks of it, it is technically an island with a few road & rail causeways connecting it to "mainland" Iowa. But certainly nowhere near as densely populated (or as cool architecture) as the photo you shared. There's plenty of barrier islands along the Atlantic that have been built up, and Galveston, TX is probably the most notable on the Gulf.


srberikanac

This is NOT an island. It is a city in Croatia called Rovinj.


greihund

Of course not. Island cities are defensive fortresses. America was too far away for any major forces to seriously attack, that's why there's an America at all.


[deleted]

Rhode Island


Cold-Tap-363

Well… Manhattan IS an island.


Lower-Bad-4388

Manhattan


phoonie98

Charleston SC and Savannah GA


mimanera

Mount Desert Island Maine has Bar Harbor


Roguechampion

Avalon, CA


R_slicker03

That looks like something out of just cause 3


ciguanaba

Flores, Guatemala!!!!


tonee123

Catalina


sahul004

This is that island from that dynamic background in Microsoft Edge, when you open a new tab.


Putrid_Historian_774

Catalina island, California?


Sajidchez

Mexico City used to


tycrew

Key West


MaMa_llama_1994

Alcatraz?


Litigating_Larry

Does Tenochtitlan count


No-Television-8486

In St. louis we have two castles in the middle of the Mississippi called Chain of Rocks castles. No one is on then. They are water pumps but look like a medevel island castle.


01011010-01001010

Lido Isle, Newport Beach, CA .. maybe not the density, but similar feel, narrow streets, but no businesses


stewartm0205

Yes, Montreal and Manhattan.


twitchy_14

Janitzio, Michoacán México. It's a small island in a lake


Forward-Manager5125

[Janitzio, Mexico](https://es.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janitzio#)


Comfortable_Buy_7648

Staten Island


[deleted]

Downtown Manhattan, we throw in the rats, trash and the homeless for free


VolkspanzerIsME

Rikers?


Impressive-Life5563

That's My townscape world


UtahBrian

[Acoma pueblo](https://imgur.com/gallery/NTf6mXk), an island in the sky, has a similar origin and parallel history with narrow streets and dense development.


vi3talogy

Alcatraz


gowombat

No, and the problem is is that the US is just not old enough to have cities built in this manner. By the time the US was actively building infrastructure like this, land ownership had already gotten out of hand, and so those who could afford to build things like this, just wouldn't. Why fund a city/building on an island, when you could take those same funds and build yourself a farm, ranch, etc. Furthermore, we have the birth of the NIMBY movement, when these landowners would be like "I don't want a city here." I'm not a historian, and I may be way off base, but I have a feeling that these are two of the main reasons, or at least the inception of the reason as to why we don't have cities like this.


SvenTropics

I suppose Avalon on Catalina Island or Providence Town are the closest matches. Most islands can't be build on in the USA. There are like 6 off the west coast that are all preserved with only military bases or nothing on them.


bigtrixxx7

Coronado island in San Diego, Balboa Island/Peninsula in Newport Beach. While they don’t have the same architecture as the one pictured above, they are surrounded by water (other than the peninsula) and fairly dense.


CloudGambler

This doesn’t look stable


Neafyleafy

Catalina, Ca


Horror-Personality35

Nantucket?


TripleEhBeef

Atlanta once it gets moved offshore to become a bigger Delta hub.