Southampton twinned with MIAMI in bizarre tale of two very different cities

SOUTHAMPTON has been twinned with MIAMI - but the two cities have more in common than you think.

Council chiefs in the Hampshire city announced the official partnership today.

Despite them being more than 4,300 miles apart, Sun Online looked at the similarities that bring the two port cities together.

Beaches

Miami is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches, full of scantily-clad holidaymakers sipping cocktails on sun loungers.

But what about Southampton? Well, it does have beaches, but you won’t see that many glamorous sun-worshippers flocking to the pebbles of Weston Shore to top up their tan.

While the brisk waters of the Solent can’t compete with the blue waters of the tropical Atlantic.

Sports

Southampton – home of the Saints – is synonymous with football. The city is fearlessly proud of its club and of heroes such as Matt Le Tissier.

Miami has NBA team the Heat and the Dolphins in NFL – not to mention David Beckham’s Inter Miami FC soon to be in the MLS - but no one in Florida has witnessed the thrill of Le Tiss chipping Peter Schmeichel.

Food

Visitors to Miami are spoilt for choice when it comes to cuisine with strong Latin American and Caribbean culinary influences as well as delicious seafood.

But while locals chow down on delicious Cuban sandwiches – Southampton residents can tuck into some good old fashioned fish and chips with one local chippie voted in the UK's top 20 last year.

Music

The night life is so good in Miami Will Smith rapped about it and dancers pack the city's bars and clubs.

Gloria Estefan, DJ Khaled, Jason Derulo and Enrique Iglesias, to name but a few, all hail from the Magic City.

While Craig David is undoubtedly Southampton’s most renowned musical son - apart from Indie group, Delays.

But no one out of Miami has produced an album as iconic as Born to Do It.

Tourism

Last year, 23.3million tourists visited Miami - bringing in $18billion for the city's economy.

During their stay in the city people can check out the art deco buildings on Ocean Drive or Jungle Island theme-park.

In 2017, Southampton was voted the UK's 20th most-visited city for foreign tourists staying for a night.

Trippers may not have art deco masterpieces to gaze upon but you can’t learn about Tudor House or check out the Peppa Pig rides in Paultons Park, in Miami.

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