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Michael A. Stecker
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Edinburgh is one of the world's greatest cities. Its dramatic site, extraordinary architectural heritage and cultural vigor soon charm all visitors. The crowded tenements of the historic Old Town contrast with the orderly grid of the Georgian New Town. Backdrops include glimpses of the Firth of Forth, the Pentland Hills and classically draped Calton Hill. Edinburgh is best seen on foot, and the best place to start is Edinburgh Castle: beautiful, romantic and a reminder of the city's bloody past. Its foundations date back as far as 850 BC, and the oldest surviving section dates from 1130. From the 11th to 16th centuries, the castle was the symbolic seat of Scottish royalty, and today it's still home to the army's Scottish Division. It sits at the western end of the Royal Mile, which runs down to the more comfortable royal accommodation at Holyrood. New Town lies to the north, separated by the sunken railway line and Princes St Gardens, which feature the supremely Gothic Sir Walter Scott Monument. Georgian order and elegance are reflected in New Town's beautiful squares, circuses and terraces. The National Gallery of Scotland has an impressive collection of European art, while the pageant of Scottish history can be seen at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. |
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