Dublin
Ireland is best known as a land of quaint villages, friendly people and wild natural beauty but there is another side to this emerald isle -- the urban charms of Dublin.
There is a certain irony in focusing on the big city when you visit Ireland because the true beauty of this land is undeniably its countryside: the lush, green landscapes that are found everywhere outside of Dublin. We've shown all that in the other movies in our Ireland collection, but now we're focusing on the urban excitement of Dublin.
This convivial capital is truly a fascinating place with warm, sociable people, lovely architecture, excellent museums, great pubs, varied restaurants, endless entertainment and the most popular attraction, Guinness, in the pubs and at their storehouse display.
We'll start out with three main areas south of the river Liffey: Trinity College, St. Stephen's Green and Temple bar. And then up to pedestrian shopping street, and of course out to the Guinness Storehouse.
Trinity College is one of the world's great schools and a leading attraction, with more than half a million visitors each year. People come to see the graceful campus with its wonderful collection of historic buildings and gardens arranged in a harmonious setting spanning 35 acres.
The impressive Campanile bell tower dating to 1853, stands in the center of campus and is the symbol of the school. Behind it is Trinity's oldest building a red brick structure called the Rubrics from 1690.
There is one very special item on campus everyone flocks to see -- the illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kells, dating back to the 8th century.
This is Ireland's most popular single tourist attraction, so it pays to get here early because the lines to see it can get very long during the busy summer months especially. The Book of Kells hearkens back to the Middle Ages when Irish monks were keepers of the flame of civilization in an otherwise dismal European cultural scene of the Dark Ages.
The Book of Kells is on display in the Old Library, which in itself is a notable site lined with dark wood shelves containing 200,000 of the school's oldest books and some fascinating artifacts.
12,000 students keep the Trinity campus and this part of town quite lively during the school year, but during the summer holidays, rooms in the dormitories can be rented for a reasonable fee if you would like nice quiet, centrally-located accommodations with private facilities in buildings of historic character.
Dublin's main pedestrian promenade is Grafton Street, which extends for six glorious blocks and is lined with shops and restaurants all the way. This is truly the heart of town, filled with mobs of locals out for a stroll.
St. Stephen's Green is a real charmer, with all the elements you would hope for in the perfect urban oasis: abundant green lawns, two small ponds, scattered benches, flowerbeds, a fountain, ducks, geese, soaring trees, a bandstand, snack stand, locals enjoying themselves.
It's an easy one kilometer walk from the park over to Temple Bar, Dublin's most popular gathering spot. Temple Bar is the nightlife center of town, a great place for a stroll, perhaps have a pint and catch some traditional music. It is the city's busiest tourist district.
You'll surely find Irish music every day in several of these lively pubs.
At night, Temple bar becomes action central for the young travelers, catering mostly to tourists who want to party into the wee hours.
There are many pubs that provide an authentic local experience with live music in a variety of styles, mostly Irish. And you can find lots of Irish beer and food here. This is not a typical Irish scene. It's a bit noisier, with drinks a bit more expensive, but it's a great showplace for people watching and partying.
It's easy to leave Temple Bar via the Ha'penny Bridge crossing the river Liffey up to O'Connell Street, where many hotels are located.
Oscar Wilde grew up in this house on Merrion Square where he lived with his parents until he was 24, and across the street is a statue of the great writer himself.
Passing through Phoenix Park. It's the largest enclosed public park in any capital city in Europe. It's open every day.
Dublin Castle is another government building of interest to visitors. It was the seat of English rule for nearly 800 years, open now as a museum. Originally built as a fort and castle evolved into a royal palace.
St. Patrick's Cathedral is the largest and tallest church in Ireland with the spire reaching 43 meters high. Built on an early Christian site where St. Patrick reputedly baptized his flock in the 5th century, the tower dates from 1370 and most of the rest was rebuilt during the 19th century in the gothic style. Its most celebrated Dean was Jonathan Swift, who presided here from 1713 to 1745 while writing Gulliver's Travels and other satirical classics.
Christ Church Cathedral is Dublin's oldest surviving building, originally constructed about the year 1030 by Vikings, who had already become Christianized, and are considered the founders of Dublin.
Beer-lovers must visit the Guinness Storehouse where you can learn all about the brewing of that wonderful dark stout and enjoy some fresh samples. It is the country's most popular tourist attraction with 1.5 million annual visitors.
It was named Europe's leading tourist attraction for 2015 at the World Travel Awards, winning more votes than the likes of the Eiffel Tower and the Coliseum.
The admission includes tasting a pint, which you can learn how to pour for yourself if you go to the fourth floor, or ride to the top floor, high up in the Gravity Bar, with a rooftop view of the city spread out all around you. It's a fun social scene up here.
The National Gallery of Ireland has a small but excellent selection from the major periods of European art history, and a large collection of Irish art tastefully presented in a beautiful building.
O'Connell Street is like the Broadway or Fifth Avenue of Dublin. It is a grand old boulevard with wide sidewalks and lined with important historic monuments.
The most famous building that you'll see on O'Connell Street is the grand neoclassical façade of the General Post Office. This landmark structure played a role in the Irish rebellion against the British during the Easter Rising of 1916.
You'll want to take a stroll on Henry Street, the city's busiest shopping strip for residents. Along with the more upscale Grafton Street, this is one of Dublin's two main pedestrian lanes and is packed with excellent shops.
We have longer movies about each of these destinations in our collection, so be sure to take a look.