Old Town, Edinburgh

The picturesque Grassmarket has been an important market place since the Middle Ages and is mentioned in documents as early as 1477. Public executions were held here from 1660. On the north side of the market place stands The White Hart Inn where the poets Robert Burns and William Wordsworth are said to have been guests. In 1791 Burns penned the poem "Ae Fond Kiss" to his beloved "Clarinda". There are now a number of cozy pubs and little shops around this historic square.

On George IV Bridge stands one of the four largest libraries in the country. It grew out of the Advocate's Library that was founded in 1689 and now receives a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. The seven figures in the entrance symbolize different teaching methods. As well as its permanent exhibition on Scottish history, the library also houses touring exhibitions on historical themes.

To find the 17th century Greyfriars Church follow Candlemakers Row to the south. The graveyard here, the oldest in Edinburgh, is the last resting place for a number of celebrated Scots including the architects William Adam (1689-1748) and James Craig (1740-1795), the poet Allan Ramsay (1686-1758) and the humanist George Buchanan (1506-1582). The first "National Covenant", directed against Charles I's attempt to impose the constitution of the Anglican church on Scotland, was signed here in 1638. Under this framework, the church would be subjected to the power of the state. The Covenanters, on the other hand, wished to promote Presbyterian beliefs, in particular the freedom and independence of the church.Buried within the Covenanters Prison is James Hutton, considered by many to be the father of modern geology.

Edinburgh University, one of the largest seats of learning in the country, can look back over a long tradition. It was founded in 1583 although the buildings largely date from the end of the 18th C and beginning of the 19th C Old College with some tastefully furnished rooms in the Upper Library was designed by Robert Adam in Classical style and the huge dome as added in 1883 by Sir Rowand Anderson. Outside stands a memorial to the inventor James Watt. During the 20th C other buildings elsewhere in Edinburgh have become part of the university campus, such as King's Buildings in West Main (1928), Heriot-Watt University (1966) and the university building with library on George Square.