When
organizing a trip to the United Kingdom, London is usually the destination,
which attracts almost 20 million tourists from all over the world each year.
If
you have already seen the capital and you want to return to the Queen's
territories, in this article I recommend Edinburgh ... especially if you are a
Harry Potter fan and literature lovers!
Must see: what
to visit
Edinburgh is a
city full of art and places to visit, so you'll be spoiled for choice. Also,
unlike other cities in the United Kingdom, many museums are free. We start
right from the National Museum of Scotland. One of the most visited free
museums by families, because it offers a number of attractions very nice for
the little ones and that make the older ones want to learn something new. There
are various rooms dedicated to the animal world, with life-size dinosaur
skeletons, others that offer a focus on fashion in the world, and others that
explore machines and robotics . My favorites, however, were the astronomical rooms:
you will feel like you are really in space.
The National
Gallery is another obligatory (and free) stop in Edinburgh. It contains a
well-stocked range of Scottish art through the ages, and more! There are also
Italian artists, including Botticelli.
In case you
are near the Parliament, which unfortunately is not open to the public, I
suggest you take a trip to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Scottish residence
of the Queen. Compared to other royal residences, it has nothing special but,
thanks to the audio guide included in the ticket, you can listen to the life of
Maria Stuart and Queen Victoria.
Last, not
least, the famous Edinburgh Castle! Here too, the stories of the most famous
Scottish queens are intertwined with the largest history of Europe. And the
view from above is magnificent because it embraces the whole city - not to
mention the sound effects of the prisons, which are very suggestive.
For all those
passionate about literature, I point out that this city is not only the capital
of Scotland, but also the publishing and stronghold of writers. It was the
birthplace of Sir Walter Scott, Irvine Welsh, Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson,
Muriel Spark, James Hogg, Sir James Matthew Barrie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, JK Rowling,
etc. Libraries abound and between books, you can visit the Writers Museum for free,
near the Royal Mile. In case you are lucky enough to go there in August, you
will find the International Book Festival, in addition to the very famous
Edinburgh International Festival.
We leave the
museums and enter the "frivolous" side of Edinburgh. If you are a
Harry Potter fan or a fan of ghosts and similar, this is the city for you: you
can have tea at The Elephant House , where JK Rowling wrote the first chapters
of the world's most famous wizard, taking inspiration from the city itself. You
will recognize Diagon Alley on Victoria Street and Hogwarts in the Castle. And
if this is not enough, there is nothing left but to get on the coach of the
Ghost Tour to make you scare and close off your trip.
Must drink:
whiskey (and gin)
Who says he
does not know is clearly lying: Scotland is famous for its spirits, especially
whiskey and gin. With over 100 active distilleries, distributed in five
production regions, many of which can offer fascinating tours, you will have
plenty to drink (and to visit). However, you will have to put your wallet in
hand: alcohol here costs a little. Even if good compromises are the gift boxes,
boxes with small bottles to put comfortably in the suitcase.
Must eat: the
food
Despite the
bad reputation for English food, in Edinburgh it is not bad at all. Certainly
the Scottish cuisine does not excel at the variety and quantity of salt, but
you will not die of hunger or hardship. The typical dish to try is certainly
the ' Haggis, a sausage that is filled with sheep entrails, ground together
with onion, kidney fat, oatmeal, salt and spices, mixed with broth.
If the haggis
is not in your ropes, know that in Edinburgh are famous smoked salmon, often
served with potatoes, and the Dunlop, a soft cheese.
For breakfast,
however, I recommend buying as many scones and short breads as possible,
accompanied by butter, jam and a cup of tea. The scones are similar for
leavening to brioche dough, less sweet and just as tasty. The most famous are
the shortbread, the typical Scottish butter biscuit - excellent as a souvenir
for the sweet tooth.
All photos by
Amalia D'Anna
Source: here
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