Why is Edinburgh so dark?

Most of Edinburgh's sandstone structures were hidden by layers of black dirt by the 1950s, a legacy of home coal fires that earned the capital city the moniker "Auld Reekie." The smoke darkened the stone and made it harder to clean.

Why are Edinburgh buildings so dark?

“The Scott Monument and [National] Art Galleries, which are largely built of Binny Sandstone, are disfigured by black patches on the surface of the stone. These patches are generally said to be caused by the smoke of the city, and by the smoke of the locomotives of the railway close at hand.

Why are there no skyscrapers in Edinburgh?

A desire to preserve the historic character of the town has necessitated the implementation of heavy restrictions concerning the height of new buildings and there no real skyscrapers in modern Edinburgh.

Is there an underground city in Edinburgh?

Hidden beneath the streets and bridges of Edinburgh, are several underground closes and chambers. Closed off to the public for hundreds of years, these places remained frozen in time, just waiting to be rediscovered. Today, some of them have been excavated and re-opened.

What is special about Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Castle is built on an extinct volcano. The Royal Mile is actually one mile and 107 yards long. Edinburgh was the first city in the entire world to have its own fire service. Edinburgh has 112 parks and more trees per head of population than any other city in the U.K.

Catherine Heymans, University of Edinburgh "The Dark Side of the Universe"

What is the vibe of Edinburgh?

Many different cultures, nationalities and ethnicities are melting together and create the unique multicultural vibe of Edinburgh. Reflected in the diverse art scene, infamous Festivals, vibrant fairs and markets the city deserves its title “the beating heart of Scotland”.

Why is Edinburgh so different?

Edinburgh is facinating architecturally. The old town was built, then buildings were built on top of the buildings, then alleyways were closed in to create yet more living space. It's a virtual rabbit warren. The old town also houses one of the oldest Camera Obscuras in the world.

Is Edinburgh built on top of the old city?

A Hill of a City

Like another famous city, Edinburgh is said to be situated on seven hills, but the one hill that figures into this topic is Castle Rock. This old volcanic plug towers majestically above the surrounding city with sheer sides on three of its four faces.

What is underneath Edinburgh Castle?

Descend into a section of Edinburgh's legendary Underground City, where a population once lived in utter misery. Forgotten for centuries and only recently unsealed, this part of the vaults is known as Damnation Alley.

What built on top of Edinburgh?

During the 17th century, Edinburgh was suffering from major overcrowding. The city had been built on the top of Castle Rock with a wall around the edge to protect its residents.

Why are buildings so tall in Edinburgh?

Due to the narrow streets, and the proximity of the city wall, tenements in the 16th century had to be tall and narrow in the overpopulated city – some were even 14 stories high! These were considered the world's first 'high rise' flats.

How old are buildings in Edinburgh?

Many of Edinburgh's oldest buildings are well over 500 years old. Merchiston Tower dates from the 15th century.

Why does Edinburgh look dirty?

Why is Edinburgh so dirty? Scotland's capital, Edinburgh During the industrial revolution, Edinburgh furnaces regularly emitted smoke and soot into the air. This pollution, along with smoke from the chimneys of densely packed tenements, earned the city the moniker Auld Reekie (Old Smokie).

Why is there an underground city in Edinburgh?

What were Edinburgh's Underground Vaults originally used for? The vaults were used in the late 17-1800s by merchants and tradesmen for many things, including storage. One chamber was even used as a tavern, explaining the majority of empty bottles which were found there.

Did Edinburgh have plague?

Two types of plague hit Edinburgh, killing around half of those that contracted it. The pneumonic plague attacked the lungs, causing coughing which resulted in massive internal bleeding which turned the skin black, hence the name the black death.

Are there tunnels under Edinburgh Castle?

Edinburgh has no shortage of hidden depths, and the tunnel that once ran under the Forth is one of the most fascinating. Like Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the other iconic landmarks across the city of Edinburgh, the Firth of Forth is famous throughout the world.

Is Edinburgh built on a hill?

In an allusion to Rome, Edinburgh is said to be built on seven hills – though it's not hard to come up with a few more if you know the city well.

Did Scotland have the Black Death?

In the 1340s, the Black Death wasted much of Europe and the Middle East, yet Scotland initially welcomed the onset of the plague. Once again the Scots believed they had been spared, this time by St Andrew, while the English were receiving some much deserved divine retribution.

Why are there vaults under Edinburgh?

The vault rooms, used as storage space and workshops for the South Bridge businesses, operated as intended for a relatively short space of time. Construction of the bridge had been rushed and the surface was never sealed against water. The vaults began to flood. Abandonment of the vaults began as early as 1795.

Is Edinburgh medieval?

Edinburgh is a very old city, but much of its medieval highlights have been covered by the architecture of later centuries.

Which is nicer Glasgow or Edinburgh?

Those who say Edinburgh is better than Glasgow point to other facets of Scottish history and culture. Whilst Glasgow hosts the nation's largest performing arts venues and is home to nearly one-third of the entire national population, Edinburgh is the nation's capital.

What is an Edinburgh person called?

The correct term is Dunediner and refers to the old name of the town, Dunedin, although Edinburgher does seem to be used alot (mainly by Glaswegians). Seth, Edinburgh UK.

Is Scotland friendlier than England?

SCOTS have been labelled the UK's friendliest people by a major new study. The University of Cambridge researched more than 400,000 Britons online and found wide difference between regions – with the Welsh being labelled the shiest and Londoners the least welcoming.

What is that smell in Edinburgh?

The explanation: this smell is that of malt. It's coming from distilleries all over the region, and in particular the North British Distillery Company, based in Georgia, in the suburbs of Edinburgh, according to the local blog Secret Atlas.