Sotheby’s International Realty

Directly across the East River from Manhattan, Brooklyn's charming historic neighborhoods offer an escape from the city yet are just a short trip from Manhattan via subway or the Brooklyn Bridge. A wealth of gracious Brooklyn real estate including immaculate 19th-century brownstones, Greek Revival and Italianate row houses, quaint converted carriage houses and prewar and postwar apartment buildings can be found in the distinct neighborhoods of this borough. Along the Fulton Ferry Landing, the enchanting Brooklyn Promenade revels in unrivalled panoramic views across the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline, featured in numerous films. Cultural highlights include Prospect Park, a splendid 526-acre treasure designed in a naturalistic scheme by celebrated landscape architects Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmsted. The Brooklyn Museum of Art is housed in a 19th-century Beaux Arts landmark, and sits near the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, a triumph of horticultural design. Other notable cultural assets include the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), a venue of cutting-edge performance arts.