The Old Town in Edinburgh is the historic center of the Scottish capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the New Town in the classicist style and part of the West End with Georgian buildings. The old city has preserved many medieval buildings and structures of the Reformation period.
The old city is located between Edinburgh Castle and the former Holyrood Abbey (now Holyrood Palace is in its place). The main artery of the Old Town is the Royal Mile, which consists of a series of medieval streets. Streets and dead ends converge on both sides of it, so the Royal Mile resembles a ridge in shape. The Royal Mile is one of Edinburgh's main attractions; there are a large number of small souvenir shops selling traditional Scotland whiskey, kilt and other wool products.
Other attractions of the historic center include the University of Edinburgh, the Royal Museum of Scotland, several churches and many historic buildings. Also within the Old Town is Grassmarket, famous for its numerous pubs.
Most of the buildings of the Old Town have been preserved since the time of construction and are typical examples of medieval architecture. The buildings are made of stone; numerous tall windows are typical for them. Many buildings are covered with soot left over from the Middle Ages, when houses were heated with coal and wood, so the gray color prevails in the Old Town. The newer buildings are distinguished by the number of storeys - in the late Middle Ages the population of the city increased significantly, higher houses were built to accommodate the townspeople.
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