Edinburgh Castle and a view of the landscape
As everyone knows, Edinburgh is a beautiful city. Much of its charm is due to the lack of skyscrapers and modern architecture, but much is also due to the fact that Edinburgh is built on hills, creating both panoramic views from these hilltops, and views of those hills from downtown.
The most famous building in Edinburgh, the castle, can be seen from various points downtown. Looking up in another direction is Calton Hill, on which you see an obelisk and what looks like a small castle. This is Governor’s House, which is all that remains of Calton Gaol. Built in 1817, it was the largest prison in Scotland until it was demolished in the 1930s.
Monument to Political Martyrs and Governor’s House
The obelisk is a monument to five men who were imprisoned for campaigning for parliamentary reform in the 18th century. They were convicted of sedition in a series of trials and exiled to Australia in 1794.
Scott Monument, Edinburgh
It’s hard to go very far without the Walter Scott Monument popping up in your line of vision. The worlds largest monument to a writer, it towers over everything else in the city.
Walter Scott Monument
View from my Antalya balcony
Am I crazy, or do you see what I mean?
I tried to get some shots from Calton Hill, but I was up there too late in the day to get the best light.
On the right is the memorial to philosopher and Edinburgh University Professor Dugald Stewart. The Royal Society of Edinburgh commissioned the monument in 1831 . It was modelled after the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens, and is one of several Greek Revival structures in Edinburgh.
Aside from all the famous monuments, Edinburgh has picturesque streets. Victoria Street, with its colorful buildings in a curve, is an example.
Victoria Street, Edinburgh
Edinburgh doesn’t have as many museums as Glasgow, but two that are worth visiting are the National Gallery, if only for the view from its cafe -
Edinburgh Green, from the National Gallery
and my personal favorite, the National Portrait Gallery. In addition to being a gorgeous building, walking through this museum provides an excellent introduction to Scotland’s history.
Edinburgh’s National Portrait Gallery
Of course, it’s nice to time a visit to Edinburgh to coincide with its Fringe Festival, so you can spend your days sight-seeing and your evenings at the theater, opera or comedy performances.
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