Voyage of Scotland

Scotland
Scotland is a country in the United Kingdom to the north of England. Its symbol is a thistle, its patron saint is St. Andrew. The country is divided into Highlands and Lowlands. The most interesting to visit place is Lowlands, namely Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Glasgow
Glasgow is a port city on the river Clyde, located in the Western part of the Scottish Lowlands. Glasgow is the heart of industry. It is a centre of business and trade. And nowadays it is a national cultural centre, home to institutions such as Merchant city district, Kelvingrove gallery and Museum and Riverside Museum of transportation, as well as famous museums and a vibrant music scene.

Merchant city
district
The district was formed by the second half of the XVIII century. Its territory was inhabited mainly by wealthy merchants, so it was considered prestigious in those days. By 1970, the area had gradually declined. In the 80's, it was decided to make a large-scale reconstruction of merchant city, as there were many buildings — historical monuments within its boundaries. Today, this place is the center of luxury housing, trendy restaurants and brand stores.

Kelvingrove gallery and Museum
Art Museum that is considered one of the most visited in Scotland. The building was built in the early XX century in the Spanish Baroque style. The construction was timed to coincide with the opening of the 1901 international exhibition in Glasgow. The basis of the Museum collection was formed by paintings from the private collection of A. McLellan. The gallery has paintings by Titian, Botticelli, Rubens, Picasso, Rembrandt, Dali, as well as works by Scottish artists.

Riverside Museum
of transportation
The Museum has an exhibition dedicated to the development of Glasgow's urban transport. There are bicycles, horse-drawn carts, buses, trams, cars, and model trains. The Museum collection consists of 3 thousand copies. There are even vintage racing cars among them. The Glenlee, a ship built in 1896 and decommissioned in 1993, is moored next to the Museum building on the river Clyde.

Edinburgh
Edinburgh - the capital of Scotland, is located in the Eastern part of the Scotland lowlands, namely on the hills that occupy a relatively small area. It consists of a medieval Old town and an elegant New town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Above the city stands Edinburgh castle, where the Royal jewels of Scotland and the Skunk stone (the stone of destiny), on which the country's rulers were crowned, are kept. From the top of the mount Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, there is a magnificent view of the city. As well as a mandatory place to visit - Royal Mile.

Royal mile
The Royal Mile is the collective name for several streets located in the centre of the Scottish capital. Their total length is approximately 1,800 meters, which corresponds to the size of the Scottish mile. A large number of attractions are concentrated here. The mile begins in the square at Edinburgh castle, passes through the high street and the Lawn market, and ends at Holyrood Palace.

`
Edinburgh
castle
The ancient residence of the Scottish monarchs, which is mentioned in documents from the XI-XII centuries. as a result of the long-term war with England, the fortress was repeatedly destroyed, after which it was rebuilt again. In the 15th century, the residence was moved to Holyrood Palace, and Edinburgh castle was used as a prison. In the XVII century, by order of the English monarch Charles II, an Arsenal was placed in the fortress. Since the XIX century, it was opened to visitors.

Arthur's Throne
A plateau at the top of the mountain, located on the territory of Holyrood Park. It offers great views of Edinburgh. The North beach bridge, the new Parliament building, Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile and other attractions are all visible. The observation deck can be accessed via a stone staircase. Arthur's seat is the highest point of the Scottish capital.