The unique profile of Edinburgh was born of a marriage between nature's sculpture and man's architecture. The epicenter is Castle Rock—a volcanic plug—which draws the eye from all parts of the city. Sloping down from it is a jagged outline of impossibly high medieval tenements lining the Royal Mile which is punctuated by Holyrood Palace. Edinburgh is a city blended into the countryside, with the Firth of Forth as the northern backdrop, a necklace of hills in all other directions. Its history has been less harmonious, largely due to warring with the English, but also because of religious turmoil and social unrest. The vibrant capital today draws thousands of visitors, not only for the historical sights, but also for the annual International Festivals of the arts, music and literature. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Edinburgh as we're guided through its streets.
