Cheap flights from Sacramento to Syracuse from £138

Salt was found in the area in the 17th century, in 1654, soon after, the city of Syracuse was founded. Salt production grew fast, and Syracuse supplied most of the salt used in the entire United States for most of the 19th century. Even today, Syracuse is frequently referred to as ‘Salt City.’ The Salt Museum can be found near Lake Onondaga (Central Park). The museum is constructed from timber that used to be part of the salt warehouses. Inside, you can see all the equipment and utensils used to extract salt from the saltwater.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1910, and one of its most important highlights is its Shrine of the Blessed Mother. The statue was created by Jacqueline Belfort-Chalat, a professor at LeMoyne College. Close to the Sacred Heart Altar, there is another important piece of art — a mosaic in honour of St. Marianne Cope, a Franciscan nun from central New York who worked for many years in a leper colony in Hawaii. There are regular concerts and musicals held in the cathedral, and its acoustics are superb.

If you want something to eat or drink, head for Armoury Square as there is a great choice for both. The Armoury used to be the industrial part of the city, but in the 1980s, it was completely revitalised, and today is a hip place to be seen.