Day 3 in Edinburgh
Feel Victorian atmosphere in the New Town
The New Town is usually connected with arts, as there are situated numerous art galleries here. Direct to the Scottish National Gallery. It is a neoclassical building that houses the Scottish national collection of fine art, but also international masterpieces, from the beginning of the Renaissance. Key works of art displayed at the National Gallery include: “Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child” by Sandro Botticelli, “The Lomellini Family” by Anthony van Dyck, “El Medico” by Francisco de Goya, “Fabula” and “Christ Blessing” by El Greco, “Haystack” Claude Monet and other.
Calton Hill is a serious rival of the Holyrood hill, offering spectacular views over the capital city from a different angle. Here, the headquarters of the Scottish Government is placed, together with the building of the Scottish Parliament and other important buildings. The hill is dimmed with monuments of renowned personalities like Horatio Nelson, Dugald Stewart, and Robert Burns. But the structure which draws the attention of everybody is the so-called National Monument, nicknamed often “Edinburgh’s opprobrium”. This is because the monument was being intended to look like the Athens’ Parthenon, but because the allocated funds exhausted, the monument became a symbol of great aspirations and insufficient financial resources.
For superb circular panoramas, climb those 143 stairs of the Nelson’s Monument. From the top of the structure, you can observe the sea. You can go to it by bus or on foot. Explore the Portobello Beach which is especially popular during the summer months. This is also considered Edinburgh’s most easily accessible beach. If it is too cold for sunbathing, take a walk on the promenade which stretches east to Joppa and leads on to Musselburgh. Sit down at one of the cafes or beer gardens overlooking the sea and enjoy the scene.
