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Melbourne is a city in Australia that is located on the bay of Port Phillip. Its the capital city of the State of Victoria and is the most heavily populated of all Australian cities. Melbourne covers an area of thirty-four hundred square miles and has a population of over four million people. The area of Melbourne has been occupied for over thirty thousand years by the indigenous tribes of the area, the Boonwurrung, Wathaurong and the Wurundjeri. These tribes thrived in the area by hunting and gathering from the land. The first European settlement wouldn’t arrive to the area until 1803, at Sullivan Bay. This initial colony faced hard times, however, due to the perception that the area had little resources to sustain it and it was eventually abandoned.

Then in 1835, John Batman came to the area and negotiated for a parcel of land that measured over six hundred thousand acres from the Wurundjeri elders. Mr. Batman then traveled back to his residence in Tasmania. He dispatched a settlement party to set up a village in the area, but a seperate group led by John Pascoe Fawkner had already set up a colony there. These groups would eventually strike a deal and agree to share the area.

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Eventually the treaty between John Batman and the aboriginees would be voided by the Governor of New South Wales, Richard Bourke and the village would become property of the crown. The name of the village was then changed to Melbourne and Queen Victoria would incorporate it into a city in 1847.

Melbourne would then experience a period of rapid growth due to the Victoria Gold Rush of 1851. The entire state of Victoria were filled with miners and prosepectors who needed supplies for their mining operations. Melbourne was more than happy to oblige and as a result manufacturing in the city increased dramatically. With the influx of gold into the city Melbourne was able to work on massive civic building projects which produced landmarks such as the Parliament House, Melbourne Town Hall and St. Patrick’s cathedrals. This level of prosperity continued into the 1880s and the city became the second largest city in the British Empire. It would all come to an end in 1891, however, when a depression hit the city. In 1901, the city would become a part of the Commonwealth of Australia when Victoria joined the Federation of Australia.

Melbourne is a popular tourist destination with over six million domestic visitors and one and a half million foreign visitors each year.

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This city has a wide range of attractions to interest tourist. One of the more popular attractions in the city is Federation Square. This cultural district has a large number of historical buildings, museums, art galleries, restaurants and bars. Located in this district is the Australian Centre for the Moving Image. The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (or ACMI) is a museum dedicated to moving images. This large facility has two cinemas which can play movies in every imaginable format and with the latest THX sound. Also located in the district is the Ian Potter Centre, BMW Edge Amphitheatre, National Design Centre and the The Melbourne Tourist Information Centre.

Another popular attraction in Melbourne is the Eureka Tower. This nine hundred and eighty-four foot skyscraper was constructed in 2006 in the Southbank precinct. Its the highest residential skyscraper in the world and its main feature is its observation platform Eureka Skydeck 88. The Melbourne Museum is a favorite among internation tourist to the city. It was built in 1854 and features seven main galleries. This museum has many exhibits which cover the human body, dinosaurs, the Aborigines of Victoria and insects. There is also a childrens museum located inside.

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The Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is another popular venue in the city. The Crown Casino was established in 1994 and is visited by over sixteen million people each year. This casino has a license to operate twenty five hundred slot machines and over three hundred table games. Games located in this casino include Blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Poker, Roulette, Baccarat and Pai Gow. Also located in this complex are both fine dining and fast food restaurants, shops, arcade games, laser tag and a bowling alley. There is a hotel complex located here and a ballroom as well.

Art lovers visiting Melbourne should check out the National Gallery of Victoria. This art museum was founded in 1861 and is the largest and oldest art gallery in Australia. This museum contains Australian Aboriginal art, modern art and impressionist art. Located here are works by artist such as Marco Palmezzano, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Paolo Uccello, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo and Tintoretto. The Melbourne Aquarium is another prime attraction in the city. It was built in 1999 and contains a two million litre aquarium.

Luna Park is the premier amusement park in Melbourne. It is one of two amusement parks in Australia, the other one being located in Sydney.

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It was built in 1912 and is situated on Port Phillip Bay in St Kilda. The park consist of several features which include “Mr Moon” gateway, carousel, Big Top, Coney Island and Dodgem’s Building. Luna Park host a wide range of different rides which include roller coasters, ferris wheels and various themed rides.

Another popular attraction is the Royal Exhibition Building. This is a World Heritage Site that was built in 1880. It was built to host the Melbourne International Exhibition. Today, the building is used for various events such as the
Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show. Its also used as an exam hall for various educational institutions such as Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, The University of Melbourne and Melbourne High School.

Other prominent attractions in Melbourne include the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, State Library of Victoria on Swanston Street, Victorian Arts Centre, Shrine of Remembrance, Docklands and Glow Golf at Dockland. The city also has a large variety of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cafes. The most famous cafe strips include Fitzroy’s Brunswick Street, Collingwood’s Smith Street, Richmond’s Bridge Road and St Kilda’s Fitzroy Street.

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Tarragona is situated by the Mediterranean Sea in the southern portion of Catalonia. It is the capital of the Tarragona Province and covers an area of seventy square miles. Over one hundred and fifty thousand people are contained within its city limits, and over six hundred and seventy-five thousand people are contained within the urban area around the city. This city can trace its history back to the Roman Empire, when it was the capital of the Hispania Tarraconensis Province and went by the name Tarraco. It is believed to have been originally founded by the Phoenicians and it was seated on a rock that had an elevation of over eight hundred feet above sea level. After it fell to the Romans, and became a colony, it became the capital of the province it was located within.

Today, the city contains a large port and most of its economic activity is derived from a number of chemical industries located within the city and the surrounding suburbs. But, the major economic activity of the city comes from its thriving tourist trade. This is due to a number of critical factors. The first factor that gives the city a good tourist trade is the large number of beaches it contains.

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These beaches are recognizable by their golden sands and deep blue waters. Many of these beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag designation for their cleanliness and amenities afforded to visitors. The coastline of Tarragona stretches for almost five miles and is known as the Costa Daurada. There are five main beaches, which are occasionally dotted by smaller beaches. Arabassada Beach is the most popular of the beaches, but during the summer months can become quite congested with young men and women. The Playa Miragla is another popular beach. Its popularity arises from the fact that its close to the city center, however and not because it contains any better amenities than the other beaches. Another attraction that draws people to the city is the ancient ruins of Tarraco. These ruins are surrounded by a wall, and visitors can pass through one of the two gates into the old city, Portal de Sant Antoni and Portal del Roser. These ruins have been named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

A prominent feature of the ancient ruins of Tarraco is the Aqueducte de les Ferreres.

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The Aqüeducte de les Ferreres was built by the Roman Empire as a means to transport potable drinking water into the city. In its original design, the aqueduct transported water from the Francoli River, which is only about ten miles away from Tarragona. It is believed to have been built during the rule of Augustus and has a length of one thousand feet. It contains thirty-seven arches and rises to a height of eighty-one feet. Also contained in the ancient ruins of Tarraco is the Tarragona Amphitheatre (Amfiteatre Rom). But, the city of Tarragona is also known for its cultural places of interest. One of the most popular is the Tarragona National Archaeological Museum. This museum is the oldest of its kind in Catalonia and it contains many archaeological pieces of the ancient city. Exhibits in the museum include objects used in everyday Roman life, as well as a number of mosaics. The most noteworthy of the mosaics is the Medusa mosaic that was created during the time of Augustus.

Another prominent attraction in Tarragona is Miravet Castle. Miravet Castle is situated at the top of a three hundred foot hill and is considered a fine example of military architecture.

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The castle’s courtyard is divided into two distinct sections, the Jussa (which was built between the ninth and eleventh centuries) and the Exhibition Sovereign (which was built in the twelfth century. The Exhibition Sovereign is over seventy-five hundred square feet and has a polygonal structure with five towers. One of the towers is named The Tower of Blood. Its name reflects a supposed incident that occurred at the tower when six Knights of the Templar were executed for refusing to pay a fine. Important parts to see include the stables, the cellar, the chapter house, the tank, the silos and the Romanesque temple. Over the years, the castle has undergone a number of additions and restorations, but its original charm was not lost because of them. The Aqualeon is an attraction that is part open air safari park and part water park. It features over six hundred animals and has shows that contain marine animals, birds of prey and reptiles. The water park section has water slides, flumes, river rapids, wave pools and even a children’s wading pool. Also located at the Aqualeon is a zoo, volleyball courts, cafes, restaurants, a nature observatory and many souvenir shops.

The Catedral of Tarragona is another popular attraction in the city.

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It is believed to have been begun by St. Olegarius in the fourteenth century, and is a rich combination of Arabic, Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. It consist of three sections and has three naves. In the right nave is St. Tecla chapel which was begun in the eighteenth century by Don Jose Prats. Other religious structures in the city include the church of San Pablo, convent of the Poor Clares, church of the Capuchins, convent of San Francisco, convent of the Dominicans, convent of the Carmelites, convent of the Mercederians and the monastery of Poblet. Other attractions in the city of Tarragona include El Serallo, Cyclopean Walls, Balcon de Mediterraneo, Passeig Arqueologic and Museu Necropolis.

Tarragona is also home to a number of shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and hotels. Popular restaurants and bars in the city include Restaurant Barquet, Rover Run, Restaurant passadis sociedad limitada, Camping Torre de la Mora and l’Anap Restaurant. Popular hotels in the city include the Hotel SB Express, Hotel Nuria, Hotel AC Tarragona, Hotel Husa Imperial Tarraco, Hotel Placa La Font, Hotel Lauria and the Hotel Urbis Centre. There are also a number of hostels and inns that visitors to the city can stay.

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Luxembourg City is the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and is actually a commune with city status. It covers an area of almost twenty square miles and has a population of ninety thousand people. It is situated at the epicenter of the Petrusse and Alzette rivers in the souther portion of Luxembourg. The city of Luxembourg is roughly one hundred miles from Brussels, a hundred and twenty miles from Cologne and almost two hundred miles from Paris. This city is considered to be on of the wealthiest ones in the world and has a highly developed banking industry. The city is also home to several institutions which include the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank.

Luxembourg is a city that developed around a Roman road. In the tenth century, a marketplace developed on this thriving trade route. The city would then develop from these humble beginnings. Its ideal positioning and the topography of the area around the city made Luxembourg a very strategic position to be used by the military. Fortifications began to appear around the area as early as the eleventh century.

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The city grew at an exponential rate and expanded westward around Notre Dame, a church that was known back then as St. Nicholas Church. During the fifteenth century, the Bugundians conquered the city. The city became a part of their empire and would later become part of both the Austrian and Spanish Empires. Each time the city exchanged hands new fortifications were developed. This continued until the city became one of the strongest strongholds in all of Europe by the sixteenth century. During the French Revolution, Luxembourg was occupied by France. It took France over seven months to conquer the city. When the city finally succumbed to the siege it was annexed into the French Republic. Under the Treaty of Paris of 1815, the city was placed under the Prussians. In 1867, the Luxembourg Crisis spawned the Treaty of London and as a result the city had to dismantle its fortifications. During World War II Germany occupied the city. It would be liberated in 1944.

The most popular attraction in Luxembourg City is Notre-Dame Cathedral. Notre-Dame Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church that was founded in 1613. It originally began its life as a Jesuit church and is a beautiful example of Gothic architecture.

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But, it also contains many design elements and adornments that are reminiscent of the Renaissance style. Around 1850 it was consecrated as Church of Our Lady and twenty years later it would achieve the status of cathedral under order of Pope Pius IX. During the late thirties this cathedral was expanded and enlarged. Located in the cathedral’s cemetery is the National Monument to the Resistance. At the center of this monument is the sculpture “The Political Prisoner” that was sculpted by Lucien Wercollier. Another popular attraction located in this city is the Gelle Fra, otherwise known as the Monument of Remembrance. This sixty-three foot granite obelisk was erected in dedication to all those Luxembourgers who served during World War I. At the top of this obelisk is a gilded statue of a woman holding out a wreath made of laurel. At the bottom of the monument are two bronze soldiers. One represents those who served the country and the other one represents those who have died during military service.

A famous museum in the city is the National Museum of Natural History. This museum consist of eight sections which include botany, ecology, mineralogy, geology, geophysics, astrophysics, invertebrate zoology, vertebrate zoology and paleontology.

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It was founded in the mid nineteenth century under the general principle of promoting natural history and sciences. In 1854 it opened its doors to the public and originally displayed a number of fossil specimens. During 1922, the museum was moved to the Old Gendarmerie. When the Nazi’s occupied the city during World War II, the museum was moved again. Since then, the museum has been moved several more times, until it reached its current position in 1996.

The Philharmonie Luxembourg, otherwise known as the Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte Concert Hall , is situated in the Kirchberg quarter of Luxembourg. This concert hall is home to the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. This concert hall was built by the city’s government in the mid 1990s. Construction proceeded on it over a ten year period of time and it was finally completed in 2005. The theater was created by Christian de Portzamparc. This concert hall is oval shaped and is three hundred and eighty four feet long, one hundred and nine feet wide and can seat over fifteen hundred people. The theater also has two other halls which can seat three hundred and one hundred people respectively.

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The main feature of this theater is a pipe organ that has over six thousand pipes, eighty registers and two octave pedal boards.

An important attraction in Luxembourg City is the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial. This cemetery is located just south of Findel Airport and covers an area of fifty acres. This cemetery contains the remains of over five thousand American soldiers who died in battle during World War II. Most of the service men contained in this cemetery were killed during the Battle of the Bulge which was fought not too far from this location in 1944. This cemetery is also the final resting place of General Patton. This cemetery contains rows of over five thousand white cross headstones and nine plots of grass. Located about a mile away is the Sandweiler German War Cemetery which houses the German dead from the same battle.

Other popular attractions in the city that visitors should check out include the Grand Ducal Palace, Gelle Fra war memorial, the Neumunster Abbey, Adolphe Bridge, the Place d’Armes, the casemates, Am Tunnel, d’Coque, Monument of the Millennium, Mudam, National Museum of History and Art and Villa Louvigny. The city of Luxembourg also has a surprisingly large collection of cafes, hotels, shops and restaurants for a city its size.