Dublin is the largest city in Ireland and capital of the Republic of Ireland. The Dublin Region consists of the City of Dublin and the area which was formerly known as County Dublin, and covers an area of 922 sq km and contains over a million inhabitants. It has enough attractions to keep a visitor entertained for many days without too much exertion. The city is spread over the broad valley of the River Liffey, with the Wicklow Hills sheltering it on the south.
The earliest reference to Dublin appears in the writings of the Greek astronomer and cartographer Ptolmy around the year A.D. 140. The Vikings arrived in the 10th century and established an important trading post. Christchurch Cathedral was built after the arrival of Christianity in the 13th century. Many of Dublin’s principal buildings and its main street layout date from the end of 18th century and streets of Georgian four-storey townhouses are a distinctive feature of the city’s architecture.
Modern Dublin is a prosperous city with maddening traffic, busy restaurants and a skyline full of construction cranes. As the location of the busiest airport and hub of Ireland’s transport network, most visitors to Ireland will spend some time here and there is plenty to enjoy.
