Tracing Scottish History in Edinburgh

Posted - August 12, 2019

It has also achieved the status of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known as the leading festival city in the world, buzzing with a sense of excitement not only during the summer festivals, but throughout the year. Travelers who visit during the month of August might have the opportunity to witness the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, featuring nearly one thousand musicians, pipers, drummers, singers and dancers who create a fantastic display on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
  
Cobbled medieval streets pave the way for exploration of Edinburgh’s many historic sites. Follow the Royal Mile, which runs through the heart of the city’s Old Town connecting the magnificent Edinburgh Castle, perched high on a base of volcanic rock, with the splendorous Palace of Holyroodhouse resting in the shadow of an extinct volcano – Arthur's Seat. Edinburgh Castle last saw military action in 1745 and served as the British army’s main base in Scotland until the 1920s. Peppered with attractions, such as The Real Mary King’s Close and the Scottish Storytelling Centre, historical sites including St Giles' Cathedral, and some of the best eating and drinking spots in the city, the Royal Mile offers much to see and do.
  
For another view of British royalty, take a tour of the former Royal Yacht Britannia, once the British Royal Family’s floating holiday home during their foreign travels. The yacht was in service from 1953 to 1997 and is now permanently moored in front of Ocean Terminal. The audio-guided tour affords visitors a keen perspective on the everyday lives of the royal family.
  
Further exploration of Edinburgh reveals a mysterious subterranean labyrinth in a medieval Old Town alley, which has stood nearly unchanged for 250 years – a building known as Real Mary King’s Close. An eerie tour of the building, lead by costumed characters, provides insight into the lives of Edinburgh’s residents in the 17^th century.
  
Popular tourist sights in the city also include the National Museum of Scotland in Old Town, which traces the history  of Scotland from its geological beginnings to the 1990s; the Scottish Parliament Building; and Surgeons’ Hall Museums, which includes the intriguing History of Surgery Museum, Dental Collection and Pathology Museum.