Edinburugh

Edinburgh

Scotland is the northernmost of the four constituent parts that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, sharing a 60 mile long land border with England to the south and separated from Northern Ireland by the North Channel of the Irish Sea. Otherwise, Scotland is surrounded by the bracing waters of the North Sea to the east, and the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and north. There are many cities in Scotland saturated with mystery and which have interesting and rich history. One of them is Edinburgh ,the capital of Scotland, and its largest city is Glasgow.

Edinburgh is situated on the east coast of the central lowlands, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, on the North Sea. It has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and is the seat of the Scottish Parliament. The city was one of the major centers of the enlightenment, led by the University of Edinburgh, gaining the nickname Athens of the North. In the census of 2001, Edinburgh had a total resident population of 448,624.Edinburgh is well-known for the annual Edinburgh Festival, the Hogmanay street party (31 December) and the Beltane celebrations (30 April).The city is one of Europe's major tourist destinations, attracting roughly 13 million visitors a year, and is the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London. The historic centre of Edinburgh is divided in two by the broad green swath of Princes Street Gardens. To the south the view is dominated by Edinburgh Castle. To the north lies Princes Street and the New Town. To the immediate west of the castle lies the financial district, housing insurance and banking buildings. Probably the most noticeable building here is Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Old Town The Old Town has preserved its medieval plan and many Reformation-era buildings. Large squares mark the location of markets or surround major public buildings such as St Giles Cathedral and the Law Courts. Other notable places of interest nearby include the Royal Museum of Scotland, Surgeons' Hall, the University of Edinburgh, and numerous underground streets and vaults, relics of previous phases of construction.

New Town The New Town was the 18th century solution to the problem of an increasingly crowded Old Town. The principal street was to be George Street. The other main streets are Princes Street and Queen Street. Princes Street has since become the main shopping street in Edinburgh, and few Georgian buildings survive on it. The New Town was so successful that it was extended greatly. Today the