Edinburgh, Scotland: Royal Mile

Old Edinburgh's Royal Mile — a dense tangle of historic buildings, quaint shops and fun museums — winds its way downhill from the medieval castle to Holyrood Palace. During the city's 17th century boom times, ten-storey skyscrapers blotted out the sun while workers toiled in darkness. Today, Edinburgh's striking new parliament building celebrates Scotland's independence from London, and its progressive outlook on the future. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.