My Science School

          London, one of the most famous cities in the world, is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is a futuristic city with a history that dates back to the Ancient Roman Empire.

          After the collapse of Roman rule in the early 5th century, the city came under the control of people from different lands, until the Anglo Saxons established themselves. Set on the River Thames, London developed as an important port. By the 11th century, London was beyond all comparison the largest town in England. The steady growth of the city continued through the Middle Ages. Although struck by the plague and destroyed by a great fire, London survived and flourished to become the cosmopolitan, global city that it is today. It dominates the worlds of arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion; finance...the list is long and impressive. And, at the centre of it all, stand the imposing Houses of Parliament, the iconic ‘Big Ben’ clock tower, and Westminster Abbey, the site of the coronations of British monarchs.

Picture Credit : Google

 

            Warsaw, the sprawling capital of Poland, has had a long and turbulent history. Standing proudly on the Vistula River, Warsaw dates back to the year 1313. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Poland in 1596, but later became a part of the Kingdom of Prussia.

            Warsaw has seen many battles and invasions and it was only in 1918 that it became the capital of the Independent Republic of Poland. Tragedy struck yet again with the German invasion of Poland, and the massacre of its Jewish population. But like the Phoenix of mythology, Warsaw rose again from the ashes of destruction that followed World War II, to emerge as the modern and dynamic city that it is today.

Picture Credit : Google

 

          There is hardly any city in the world more celebrated and acknowledged than Paris, the capital of France. Founded more than 2,000 years ago, Paris was confined to an island in the middle of the Seine River. However, the city quickly spread to both banks of the river. The most populated city of France, Paris has a popular nick-name, ‘the City of Lights’. The name of the city is because Paris was one of the first cities to be electrified in the country.

          The history of Paris starts from around the middle of the 3rd century BC. Parisii, a tribal settlement, was established in the area. It is from this that the city gets its name. Throughout history, Paris played an important role in transforming France into what it is today. By the 12th century, the city had assumed enough importance to become the political, economic, religious, and cultural capital of France. The French Revolution was the culmination of the modernization of Paris. The city is a breath-taking sight to watch in the night when the monuments are lit up.

          Paris is probably the number one destination for travellers across the globe. Numerous monuments in the city give the impression of the whole city being a museum. The city’s architectural landmarks include the Louvre art museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, the Catacombs of Paris and many palaces in the city.

Picture Credit : Google

 

          Located in the southern part of the country on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki is the largest city and capital of Finland. The city is the leading seaport and industrial city of the nation. Finland’s international gateway, Helsinki is the most welcoming of all the continental European capitals. Many of its buildings are made of local light-coloured local granite; and therefore, Helsinki is often called ‘the White City of the North’.

          Helsinki is the centre of Finland’s industries as business, finance, fashion, medicine, entertainment, media, culture and intellectual discourse flourish in the city.

          Its economy is largely dependent on its harbours, railway and road connections and the extensive interior of the nation. The most important industries of the city are food, metal and chemical processing, printing, textiles, clothing and manufacture of electrical equipment. The city is also regarded as the cultural capital of Finland.

          The National Museum of Finland, The Finnish National Gallery, and many theatres and sites of symphony orchestras are some of the major attractions of the city.

Picture Credit : Google

          Do you remember the city where the United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in 2009? It was Copenhagen and the conference was known as the Copenhagen Summit. Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city of Den-mark. Located on the islands of Zealand and Amager, the city lies at the southern end of the Sound, a strait that forms the Danish-Swedish border. The city’s centre is Radhuspladsen, otherwise known as the City Hail Square. The earliest historical records show that there was urban life in Copenhagen from the 12th century onwards. When Hitler occupied Denmark in the 1940s, Copenhagen was affected severely. However, after the war, the city has been rebuilt. Today, Copenhagen is one of the most modern cities in the world.

          Amager Strandpark, a long artificial island was built in 2005 in the city. Copenhagen’s economy is largely dependent on services and commerce. Another major contributor to the city’s economy is tourism. There are a large number of parks, gardens and zoos in Copenhagen. The historic centre of the city, Indre By, the new Copenhagen Concert hall and the Danish national art gallery are some of the tourist attractions of the city.

Picture Credit : Google

 

          Prague lies at the heart of Europe; and therefore, it is one of the finest cities of the continent. The capital of the Czech Republic, the city is the centre of Czech Republic’s economy and culture. The city’s urban life dates back to more than 1,000 years. A glorious city, Prague has a rich architectural and fashion heritage.

          The city has many important landmarks and tourist attractions. The Charles Bridge, which stands astride the Vltava River, is the finest example. The winding course of the Vltava, with its succession of bridges and changing vistas, is another landmark in Prague. The great castle of Hradcany, known as the Prague Castle, dominates the left-bank region of the city. The city has narrow streets, little taverns and restaurants in the older quarters. There are many churches that attract people with their architectural accomplishments. The historic city centre of Prague was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Picture Credit : Google

 

          Brussels, the capital of Belgium, is also home to many international organizations including the headquarters of the European Union. The official founding of Brussels is usually reckoned to be around A.D. 979. Because of its location on the banks of the Senne, on an important trade route, Brussels grew rapidly. Brussels remained with Austria until 1795, when it was captured and annexed by France. It remained a part of France until 1815, when it joined the United Kingdom of Netherlands. In 1830, the Belgian Revolution took place in Brussels, and with its success, the city became the capital of Belgium. With its narrow streets, daily flower markets, colourful history, 17th century buildings, beautiful parks and world famous chocolates Brussels is a popular tourist destination and the perfect spot for a family holiday.

Picture Credit : Google

           Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia. Located between the southern slopes of the Medvednica Mountain and both the northern and southern banks of the Sava River, Zagreb is considered the cultural, scientific and governmental centre of the country. The city is also regarded as the economic hub of the Balkans.

          Zagreb has played an important strategic role within Europe. Its favourable geographical location in the south-western part of the Pannonian Basin, which extends to the Alpine, Dinaric, Adriatic and Pannonic regions, has provided an excellent hub for traffic between Central Europe, the Adriatic Sea and the Balkans. Today, the city’s economic position in the region is determined by the concentration of various industries, scientific, and research institutions, and an industrial tradition.

          The city is an important tourist destination. Since the world wars, the city has attracted around five lakh visitors annually. Many museums that exhibit the rich history of the city and detail its architectural magnificence are also reasons for the interest in Zagreb.

Picture Credit : Google

            Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. Located near the geographical centre of the Balkans region in the Sofia Basin, Sofia is a trough-like valley in the western part of the country.

           Archaeologists say that there has been human presence in the city since 7,000 BC. However, the city was first mentioned only in the first century BC. Its industrialization grew further after the First World War. Today, the chief industries of the city are engineering, metallurgy, food processing, and the manufacture of textiles and clothing. Agriculture, the fruit industry and dairy farming are also sources of income for the city residents. Sofia is also the centre of Bulgarian air and rail traffic.

            Tourists are attracted to the city because of the Cyril and Methodius National Library, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre and Opera House, an astronomical observatory and a number of museums. The restored St. George, Boyana and St. Sofia churches, two mosques, one of which houses a fine archaeological collection, and the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, erected to commemorate the gratitude of the Bulgarian people to the Russian liberators of 1878 are other monuments in the city.

Picture Credit : Google

            Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small country in South-eastern Europe, in the Balkan Peninsula. Sarajevo is the capital city of this beautiful country. The city is located in the greater Sarajevo valley along the Miljacka River in the heart of the Balkans.

            Sarajevo has a long history of religious and cultural diversity. Muslims, Christians and Jews live in the city harmoniously. Therefore, sometimes, the city is called the 'Jerusalem of Europe’. The city is 600 years old and its antiquity is a major tourist attraction. Being an important trading centre, especially in the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires, Sarajevo has recieved many travellers for centuries because of its geographical location.

             Today, Sarajevo has grown into a modern city with beautiful architecture as evidenced in the Bosmal City Centre, BBI Centre, Sarajevo City Centre and the Avaz Twist Tower, which when it was built, was the tallest sky-scraper in the region. Popular tourist attractions include the Vrelo Bosne park, the Sarajevo cathedral and the Gazi HusrevBeg’s Mosque.

Picture Credit : Google

 

            One of the great historic cities of the world, Vienna is the capital of Austria. The cultural significance of the city lies in the fact that the Germanic, Slav, Italian, and Hungarian peoples and cultures have become part of its existence. The city is designed in such a way that 23 districts grouped roughly in two semicircles are arranged around the Innere Stadt, or the Inner City.

            Vienna, today, is the centre of European culture. More than a hundred art and cultural museums across the city house the city’s past glories. More than eight million tourists arrive in the city every year to visit its monuments. Have you heard of the world-renowned musicians, Ludwig van Beethoven and Mozart? They, along with a host of other musicians, scientists, philosophers and thinkers, hail from Vienna. Martin Buber, Sigmund Freud, Gustav Klimt, Josef Lanner, Franz Schubert, Ludwig Wittgenstein and Johann Strauss also are from this illustrious city. The city has a long tradition of theatre, opera, classical music and fine arts. The imperial Hofburg palace and Schonbrunn, various museums, and monuments related to great artists of the city are places of tourist interest.

Picture Credit : Google

             A curious fact about Vatican City is that the capital and the state are the same. An independent city-state that covers just over 100 acres, Vatican City is the world’s smallest fully independent nation-state. Remember, while Vatican City is just 0.44 square kilometres in size, Kochi is 94.88 square kilometres!

            Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope resides in the Vatican Palace. The government of the Roman Catholic Church is known as the Holy See, which is headed by the Pope and other bishops. There is hardly anything cultivated in the city as almost all supplies, including food, water, electricity and gas, are imported. No tax is levied on the citizens and no restriction is placed on the import and export of funds. The income of the state comes from the voluntary contributions of the believers of the Roman Catholic Church world over.

            The city’s primary attraction is its art and architecture. There are numerous exquisite Renaissance artworks of artists like Bramante, Michelangelo, Giacomo della Porta, Maderno and Bernini across the city. St. Peter’s Basilica houses most of the artefacts. Have you heard of the Sistine Chapel and its celebrated fresco, the Last Judgement, by Michelangelo? In 1984, the Vatican was chosen to be a World Heritage Site and is the only one consisting of an entire state!

Picture Credit : Google

            Bern is the capital of Switzerland. The antiquity of the city has been dated back to the 12th century. A major tourist destination, the city lies along a narrow loop of the Aare River. The cobblestone streets, sandstone arcaded buildings and the natural splendour of the city render it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is surrounded by wooded hills and steep riverbanks. The peaks of the Alps fill the horizon of Bern.

            Bern generates most of its revenue from the manufacture of of printing products, chocolate, machinery, electrical equipment and chemical and pharmaceutical products. The city houses the headquarters of the international postal, telegraph, railway and copyright unions. Cattle breeding and cheese making are also important industries of the city. Emmental cheese is a product from Bern and is a highly sought after food item across the world. Two important monuments of the city are the famous Clock Tower, with a 16th-century clock and mechanical puppets that perform four minutes before every hour, and the Cage Tower. They are the two remaining towers of the old walls that once protected the city. The bear pit, where bears had been kept on display since 1480 is perhaps the most famous landmark of the city.

Picture Credit : Google

 

            You must have heard the name of the city associated with a psychological condition called ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ in the recent past. In 1973, a criminal convict took four employees of a bank in Stockholm hostage and by the time they were released they had developed an affinity towards their captor. However, Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is known more for its antiquity, splendour and beauty than for crimes committed in the city. It is said that the city was inhabited even in 8,000 BC.

            Located at the junction of Lake Malar and Salt Bay, the city is built upon numerous islands as well as the mainland of Uppland and Sodermanland. There was a rapid development for the city in the mid-17th  century as Sweden had become a great power for a short span of time. The city became the cultural centre of the country and many of its literary societies and scientific academies sprang up during this time. Stockholm relies on metal and machine manufacturing, paper and printing, foodstuffs and chemicals for its economy.

            One of the finest capitals in the world, modern Stockholm is known for its architectural brilliance reflected in its broad streets, many parks and wellplanned housing projects. The second largest port in Sweden, the city is often called the ‘Venice of the North’.

Picture Credit : Google

            For centuries, Spain had been one of the mightiest colonial powers. Like Portugal and England, Spain too had colonies across the globe. Being the capital of Spain, Madrid played an important role as the political and diplomatic heart of the country. Although King Philip II had shifted the royal court to Madrid in 1661, the city was made the national capital only a generation later by King Philip Ill.

            Madrid is situated at the heart of the Iberian Peninsula. It lies on a sand and clay plateau known as the Meseta. The Madrid of the present day is a curious mix of contrasting features. The city has preserved its past very well, while it has coped up with modernity in style. The overcrowded city centre has its antiquity intact; however, the regions surrounding it have developed new palaces, convents, churches and public buildings.

            Madrid is also one of the cultural centres of Europe. Have you heard of a famous work called ‘Don Quixote’? This major work was written by Miguel de Cervantes, a famous writer from Madrid. Lope de Vega, Pedro Calderon de la Barca, Francisco Gomez de Quevedo y Villegas, Benito Perez Galdos, Mariano Jose de Larra, Pio Baroja and Azorin are other renowned artists and writers of Madrid. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, the National Archaeological Museum and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of the San Fernando Museum are some of the places of great tourist interest.

Picture Credit : Google