Travel_Photography: Edinburgh - City of the 'World's First Skyscrapers'

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Edinburgh - City of the 'World's First Skyscrapers'

Edinburgh, UK, is a captivating city of many historical buildings and an extensive Georgian New Town built in the 18th century. The Old and New Towns are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The heart of Edinburgh is the Royal Mile in the Old Town comprised of four streets: Castlehill, Lawnmarket, Hight Street, and Canongate, which lead into each other, extending from Castle Rock in the west to Holyrood Palace in the east, where James IV established his home. These streets received their 'Royal' epithet during the reign of James IV (1473-1513). He was one of the most popular and charismatic monarchs in Scottish history and his reign has been regarded as a Golden Age.

Following the king, the great street of the 'Royal Mile' quickly attracted the Scottish aristocracy, where they began to establish town-houses along the street; further attracting luxury businesses such as jewelers and goldsmith, creating a hive of activity, which prompted the 'world's first skyscrapers.'

The legend of the founding of Holyrood says that King David I while hunting in the forest of Drumselch got separated from his companions and was attacked by deer. He faced the deer trying to seize its antlers. But in that moment a miracle happened, instead of holding the antlers, he held a cross. The frightened deer escaped. As soon as the deer disappeared, the cross vanished as well. In gratitude the King decided to build an abbey dedicated to the cross (or rood). Therefore, the name of Holyrood.

Historical version is that Queen Margaret, King David’s mother, while escaping to Scotland in 1066 from the invading Normans, she had in her possession a holy relic known as the ‘Black Rood.’ When David succeeded to the throne in 1122, he built the abbey in memory of his mother’s devotion to this relic.

The city is famous for the Edinburgh International Festival, which, since its inception in 1947 has grown into the biggest annual international arts festival in the world.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place annualy throughout August alongside the Edinburgh Festival.

In 2004 Edinburgh became the world's first UNESCO City of Literature, an accolade awarded in recognition of its literary heritage.