Dublin Castle

Dublin, the capital city of Ireland, is famous for its rich history and tradition. As a result of all the things that happened there, the city is filled with various historical landmarks and monuments that date several years back and keep tourists flocking annually to experience the great marvels the city prides in.

Dublin Castle is an example of such a landmark. It was originally constructed from around 1204 under the orders of King John of England and meant for defence using River Poddle as a natural defence means, to protect the kingís treasures and act as a centre for administration of justice after the Norman invasion of Ireland. The castle is popular because tourists visit to see the typical Norman courtyard design which it was constructed with and the central square bounded by tall defensive walls and protected by a circular tower at each corner and has no keep.

The Spire of Dublin is among the newest monuments in the city. The conical spire made mostly of stainless steel and officially known as the ìMonument of Lightî stands at a height of 121.2 metres. It is located on OíConnell Street is also a popular site among the tourist especially at night when it appears to merge the sky and the base is lit to illuminate the top so that it provides a beacon across the city.

The Book of Kells, an illustrated manuscript that was created by Irish monks circa, is located at the Trinity College where many people visit to see it. Other favourites include: the Hapenny Bridge, an old iron footbridge built over the River Liffey, considered the most iconic landmark in Dublin; Saint Francis Xavier Church located on Upper Gardiner Street and the Poolbeg Towers visible from many areas around the city among very many others.

Dublin also has several parks like Herbert Park, St Stephen’s Green and Phoenix Park which is among the largest walled city parks in the whole of Europe and hosts the Dublin Zoo as well as ras an Uachtar, another historic landmark built in 1754. The residence of the President of Ireland as well as the home of the US Ambassador to Ireland are located in the Phoenix Park also.

Another important place to visit is the Papal cross, standing right in the centre of the famous park. The cross commemorates the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland in 1979.
The Grafton street is another place you might want to visit. It is one of the two main shopping streets in the city (the other being Henry street located on the other side of the river Liffey). All the major brands have their retail outlets there and once you get tired of browsing through shops, you can relax in one of the many great cafes or restaurants on the street.

When it comes to abundance in beautiful national treasures, Dublin stands to be counted among the top. The citys beauty and the openess of its people will certainly make any trip to the Irish capital a wonderful experience.

Thomas is a native Dubliner, he writes about the city and works for the leading serviced Dublin apartments provider.