Published on January 12, 2011 | by Francy
0Edinburgh: a blend of history and modernity
Edinburgh, on the banks of the North Sea, is an ancient city, full of interesting places to visit including monuments, palaces and castles, but also a very lively city, always on the move, where you can enjoy plenty of bars and pubs with live music.
The Old Town of Edinburgh can be visited on foot: most interesting tourist and historical attractions are concentrated in downtown. The Castle dominates the city from a hill in the historical centre. This is an old military fort that is also a museum of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
In the area of the castle, on the Royal Mile, there is the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, where you learn all the secrets of whiskey production and conservation. Also the Scottish National Museum in Chambers Street is worth a visit, showcasing more than 10 000 pieces of prehistoric jewelry, flags of the great battles, ship models and old cars.
This Museum is very close to the Royal Museum, a national museum dedicated to decorative arts, archeology, biology and science. Moreover, not to be missed is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the residence of the Queen of Scotland, on the above mentioned medieval Royal Mile.
After visiting the monuments and historic buildings, Edinburgh offers clubs and pubs where you can spend your evenings with live music, such as the Royal Oak on Infirmary Street or Whistlebinkies in South Bridge. The most lively areas are Leith – the port area, New Town, Princes Street – with many pubs still maintaining a traditional look and, in the Old Town, all the area of the castle of Edinburgh. In the Haymarket area, there is the homonymous station, the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
Photo by mcastellani