Aberdeen- the Granite City

The Scottish city of Aberdeen is often referred to as the Granite City as many of its buildings are constructed from locally quarried grey granite, whose elements of Mica makes the buildings gleam emanating a soft silvery glow. This has spawned the usage of the city’s other nickname- the Silver City with Golden Sands. The area around Aberdeen has seen human settlements for the last 8,000 years, with prehistoric villages being discovered around the Rivers Don and Dee.

Aberdeen is well known among connoisseurs of architecture for its striking Victorian masterpieces constructed from granite. This is known to be one of the most durable building materials this explains the brand new look of the city’s buildings despite them being centuries old. Other Scottish cites had used sandstone as their primary building material, which needs constant repair and maintenance work in stark contrast to granite buildings.

Among the most notable works of architecture in Aberdeen is the Town and Country Bank, Music Hall and the Trinity Hall of Incorporated Trades all located down the main thoroughfare of Union Street. Among the most famous buildings is the Marischal College opened by King Edward VII in 1906, this is incidentally also the second largest granite building in the world.

Regarded as a city full of culture many such attractions can be enjoyed here, the Aberdeen Art Gallery contains a great collection of Impressionist art; museums such as the Maritime Museum, Provost Ross’ House and the Gordon Highlander’s Museum are among the favourites. Tourists can enjoy these great sights and sounds of the city and the great granite masterpieces while indulging in the hospitality of an Aberdeen hotel.

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