Intrigue and decorum in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Beyond the imposing stone and mortar structures on the National Mall is the real Washington, D.C. — a city of neighborhoods. One is Dupont Circle, a thriving area north of downtown where cafes, shops, galleries and pricey residential property have made the region one of the district’s most popular addresses.

History and intrigue are also part of the mix. The neighborhood is the starting point for a walking tour that focuses on Embassy Row, a tree-framed residential area along stately Massachusetts Avenue. Many diplomatic delegations are housed here, some in homes built by turn-of-the-last-century tycoons. About 50 embassies, or nearly one-third of the city’s total, can be found within the wedge formed by Massachusetts and Connecticut avenues. And although the business of nations goes on behind closed doors, the history of the area itself is wide open.

Walking tours usually begin at the Dupont Circle Metrorail station. Visitors can go it alone or join groups such as Washington Walks, which leads tours Saturdays for $10 a person, www.washingtonwalks.com.+