Perched on a rocky spur of volcanic origin and surrounded on three sides by steep walls, it dominates the Scottish capital. 

The occupation of the site dates back to the Bronze Age and several archaeological excavations have indicated that the top of the mountain was inhabited around 900 BC. 

In 1130 the Castle became a royal residence, with the construction of the private chapel. Today it is the oldest part of the ancient fortress.

Despite its fearsome position, the castle often found itself in difficulty during sieges, passing several times under English control.

Although it maintained its function as a stronghold throughout the Middle Ages, unfortunately no trace remains of the castle or the fortifications prior to the eleventh century.

Numerous objects of great historical value are preserved in the castle, among which the most important is the Stone of Scone. Also known as the Stone of Destiny, the sandstone block was linked to the coronations of medieval Scottish kings. 

Legend has it that Scottish rulers will only be able to rule where the Stone of Destiny is located. Stolen by Edward I of England in 1296 in an act of political propaganda, the stone was finally returned to Scotland only in 1996.

The Crown Room of the castle houses the Scottish Crown Jewels known as the “Honours of Scotland”. These objects date back to the sixteenth century and include the crown, the sceptre and the sword. Royal jewels were first used in the coronation of Mary Queen of Scots in 1543.

A cannon fires a shot from the Castle’s balcony at 1pm, a tradition that began in 1861 and served as a signal for time adjustment during the navigation of ships in transit.

The castle is Scotland’s most popular tourist attraction, and along with the city of Edinburgh, it has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

L'articolo Edinburgh Castle  proviene da ViaggidiMatt.

According to a legend, in 1128 King David I of Scotland founded an abbey on the outskirts of Edinburgh after having a vision of a large deer with a cross between its antlers. 

He had interpreted it as a divine message: the name Holyrood derives from the Scottish expression “Haly Ruid”, which means “holy cross”, precisely in reference to the legend. 

In 1503 James IV of Scotland had the idea of transforming the abbey into a palace to adapt to the needs of the court.

Further work began in 1600 until, in 1650, a fire destroyed a large part of the building and the palace was abandoned until the beginning of the 1700s.

With the end of Scottish independence in 1707, the Palace of Holyrood passed to the English royals and in 1910, George V greatly modernized the palace thus making it the royal seat in Scotland.

The visit inside begins with the State Apartments, known above all for their stucco decorations and rich collections of French and Flemish tapestries. 

Among the main rooms that can be visited are the King’s Bedroom, the largest room; the Dining Room, which is still used for this function by the British royals when they stay in the palace and the Throne Room (with the pair of thrones commissioned by George V in 1911).

Outside the palace are the remains of the abbey church, one of the largest in medieval Scotland, now reduced to a church without a roof, characterized by large and mighty Romanesque arches and Gothic mullioned windows. 

The Palace of Holyrood is the official residence of the sovereigns of the United Kingdom during their stays in Scotland, and has long been the palace of the Scottish kings. 

English court stays there one week a year, usually between the end of June and the beginning of July. The arrival of the Royal Family is greeted with the Presentation of the Keys ceremony, in which the keys to Edinburgh are presented as a sign of the city’s loyalty.

Inside the Palace of Holyrood, it is absolutely forbidden to take photographs and filming.

L'articolo Palace of Holyrood – Edinburgh proviene da ViaggidiMatt.

The Cathedral was built in 1124 and was consecrated to the patron saint of lepers.

After the Reformation, the building underwent continuous renovations: currently, in fact, it is possible to recognize architectural and decorative elements from various eras. 

The main remodeling works were carried out after a fire set by the English in 1385 following which, in the fifteenth century, the church was rebuilt in Gothic style.

One of the most important parts of the Cathedral is the Cardo Chapel. Built at the behest of the Knights of the Order of the Thistle between 1909 and 1911, this chapel was built in Gothic style.

Although it is known as the Cathedral of Edinburgh, in reality this church cannot boast this title as it is not a bishopric.

L'articolo St. Giles’ Cathedral – Edinburgh proviene da ViaggidiMatt.

In this museum you can discover step by step how whisky is made and learn how to recognize its different flavors with a guided tasting.

The journey through the world of whisky begins with a film that goes through the various stages of whisky making.

To end the visit, you can see the largest whisky collection in the world, consisting of bottles from different eras and with particular shapes.

Whisky, Scotland’s national drink, has been produced throughout the nation for centuries. Today, there are over 100 active distilleries that each produce their own whisky using their own method. 

The art of whisky distillation was born when, centuries ago, people were looking for a way to use rain-soaked barley. Today, as then, water from Scotland’s crystal-clear rivers and streams is used.

It is widely believed that the monks of the fourth and fifth centuries brought not only Christianity but also whisky production to Scotland. 

There are three different types of Scotch whisky: malt whisky (also known as single malt), grain whisky and blended whisky. All these whiskies can boast the Scotch name, as long as they were produced in Scotland. 

Malt whisky

Malt whiskey is made with malted barley, water, and yeast. The liquid is distilled in huge copper stills and is aged in whiskey barrels for a minimum of three years. 

Grain whiskey

In this case, malted barley is mixed with unmalted barley and other grains (such as corn and wheat) before the entire mixture is combined with water and then yeast. The resulting liquid is distilled in a tall still, which looks very different from traditional stills, and produces an alcoholic beverage in larger quantities and with a higher alcohol content.

Blended whiskey

Blended whisky involves a complex process of blending several single malts (15 to 50) with grain whiskey. This is a complex process as whiskies from different distilleries have very different characteristics and do not always mix well with others.

L'articolo Scotch Whisky Experience – Edinburgh proviene da ViaggidiMatt.

On Calton Hill there are various monuments thanks to which it is nicknamed “the Athens of the North”.

From Calton Hill you can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Castle, the Scottish Sea and the main historical monuments.

Calton Hill is also a place rich in history and culture, in fact it is home to several buildings and monuments of interest, such as the National Monument, the Nelson Monument and the Observatory House.

The National Monument was designed to pay homage to those who died in the Napoleonic Wars, but was not completed due to lack of funds.

Although the ambitious project sees only twelve columns built, it has a grandiose appearance, in the style of the Parthenon in Athens. 

To get to Calton Hill you can choose between several options. The easiest is to take the tram from Waverley station and get off at York Place stop, from where you can reach the hill in a few minutes on foot.

Another option is to walk up the Royal Mile with a walk of about 20 minutes, following the signs for Regent Road and then Calton Hill.

Finally, you can also take a bus from Princes Street and get off at the Waterloo Place stop, near the entrance to the hill.

L'articolo Calton Hill – Edinburgh proviene da ViaggidiMatt.

From about 1235 to 1707, the Parliament of Scotland served as the national legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland, except for a period during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. 

For most of its existence, the Scottish Parliament did not have a regular meeting place.

In 1707, after the signing of the Act of Union, the kingdoms of Scotland and England were unified into the Kingdom of Great Britain, dissolving the Scottish and English parliaments and establishing the Parliament of Great Britain, based in London. 

Under the terms of the treaty, Scotland sent 16 Scottish representatives to the House of Lords and 45 MPs to the House of Commons. 

In September 1997, amid the rise of Scottish nationalism, a referendum on devolution was held in Scotland which approved the establishment of a Scottish parliament directly elected for home affairs only. 

It was built on the area formerly occupied by the Scottish & Newcastle brewery.

Inaugurated on 7^th September 2004, the new Scottish Parliament Building is the symbol of the recovery of legislative power by the Scottish people, after almost three centuries of union with England.

From the beginning, the work was highly criticized for various reasons, especially for the budget spent, since the construction of the building cost 10 times more than what had been planned. Other criticisms were directed at the modern design of the structure which contrasted with the medieval layout of Edinburgh.

Depending on the day of the week, you can take a guided tour of the Scottish Parliament building or attend one of the parliamentary sessions.

L'articolo Scottish Parliament Building – Edinburgh proviene da ViaggidiMatt.