Scottish Capital City Edinburgh's Princess Street in evening from Calton Hill
The acropolis on Edinburgh's Calton Hill is in fact an unfinished monument - originally called the "National Monument". Initiated in 1816, a year after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, it was meant to be a replica of the Parthenon in Athens, as a memorial to those who had died in the Napoleonic Wars. In spite of its anachronistic military monuments (there's also a Nelson's tower commemorating his naval victoy at Trafalgar in 1805) Below you Princes Street stretches directly away into the middle distance, appearing to conclude with the triple spires of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. Beyond is the long ridge of Corstorphine Hill and beyond that the open countryside of West Lothian, extending as far as Cairnpapple Hill. Much nearer at hand is the imposing bulk of St Andrew's House built in the 1930s, complete with the neighbouring 1817 castellated Governor's House, all that now remains of Old Calton Gaol, once the biggest in Edinburgh. The festive season is celebrated in style at the Capital Christmas festival in Edinburgh where even Santa and his reindeer was present to join in the festivities. Every little boy and girl's wish for Christmas had a chance to come true with an enchanting day out at Edinburgh's Capital Christmas but only if they were very, good. Capital Christmas saw Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens transformed into a magical festive world with twinkling lights, a giant wheel, a circus, pony and trap rides, Santa's reindeer garden and of course Santa Claus. During the festival there were loads of festive activities going on with the Traditional German Christmas Market, the ice rink and attractions of Winter Wonderland and the Edinburgh Wheel, which provides spectacular roof top views of the city, open throughout.
Size: 3733px × 5620px
Location: Edinburgh City Midlothian Scotland Great Britain British Isles UK EU
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: acropolis, architechture, buildings, calton, canon, capital, city, cobbles, famous, hill, impressive, light, lights, monument, moving, national, nelson, scotland, skyline, tower, traffic, view
