With a 2007 population of 471,000, Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and second-largest city. Located along the Firth of Forth near the North Sea on the east coast of the Central Belt, Edinburgh is a dramatic and elegant city. Rich in architectural and cultural heritage, both the Old and the New Town districts are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Perched above the city on a volcanic crag is the imposing Edinburg Castle, which dates back at least to the 12th century and has been the site of many historical conflicts throughout the centuries. It has also been subject to many restorations over the years, and is currently the most popular paid visitor attraction in Scotland, averaging well over 1 million visitors per year.
Trailing down the ridge from the castle is the Old Town with its well preserved medieval plan and many buildings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Leading away from the castle is the Royal Mile, which features many medieval market squares and historical structures, such as the Law Courts, McEwan Hall, the Royal Museum of Scotland and St. Giles Cathedral.
Princess Gardens divides the Old Town from the New Town, which is an 18th-century extension and move away from the ever-constricting Old Town. The original design of the New Town is in a grid design Around George Street, Queen Street and Princes Street, but outside of that is an interesting street plan with much fine Georgian architecture. Featured in this area is Charlotte Square, which is one of the finest Georgian Squares in the world.
During the 18th century Age of Enlightenment, Edinburgh earned the nickname "Athens of the North", with the University of Edinburgh taking the lead. There are also many festivals in the city throughout the month of August, referred to as the Edinburg Festival with a huge tourist influx accompanying. All in all, Edinburgh is the second most visited tourist destination in the UK right behind London. Edinburgh also won a 2009 YouGov poll as the "most desirable city to live in the UK".
Denise has been writing and publishing in the travel and design field since 2001. Check out her latest website which is all about how to identify and find the best discount window treatments, as well as what to look for in country kitchen curtains.
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