CITYSCAPE PART THREE

37. Barcelona (Spain)

The Sagrada Familia viewed from Casa Milà, Barcelona, Spain [ Photo by Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Barcelona (Catalan: , Spanish: ) is the capital and the most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of 101.4 km2 (39 sq mi). The urban area of Barcelona extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of between 4,200,000 and 4,500,000 on an area of 803 km2 (310 sq mi), being the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan. About five million people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. It is also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast. It is the main component of a union of adjacent cities and municipalities, with a population of 3,218,071 in an area of 636 km² (density 5,060 hab/km²). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

38. Cáceres (Spain)

Co-catedral de Santa María. [ Photo by Jörn Wendland / public domain ]

Cáceres is the capital of the same name province, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. As of 2009[update], its population was 91,131 inhabitants. The municipio has a land area of 1,750.33 km², and is the largest in geographical extension in Spain. There have been settlements near Cáceres since prehistoric times. Evidence of this can be found in the caves of Maltravieso and El Conejar. The city was founded by the Romans in 25 BC. The old town (Ciudad Monumental) still has its ancient walls; this part of town is also well known for its multitude of storks' nests. The walls contain a medieval town setting with no outward signs of modernity, which is why many films have been shot there. The Universidad de Extremadura, and two astronomical observatories are situated in Cáceres. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

39. Segovia (Spain)

Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain [ Photo by Manuel González Olaechea y Franco / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and Leon. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants. The name of Segovia is of celtiberian origin. The first inhabitants named the city Segobriga. This name comes from two terms of celtiberian origin, language of the celtic indo-european branch. Comes from the term Sego, which means «victory» (prefix also present in other cities such as Segeda and Segontia) and the suffix -briga, which would mean «city» or «strength». So it might be translated as "City of the victory" or "Victorious city". Segovia was first recorded as a Celtic possession, with control eventually transferring into the hands of the Romans. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

40. Toledo (Spain)

Toledo Skyline in Spain at sunrise. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Toledois a municipality located in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. It is the capital of the province of Toledo. It is also the capital of autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Visigothic Kingdom and the Spanish Empire. Many famous people and artists were born or lived in Toledo, including Al-Zarqali, Garcilaso de la Vega, Eleanor of Toledo, Alfonso X and El Greco. It was also the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. As of 2009[update], the city has a population of 82,291 and an area of 232.1 km2 (89.59 square miles). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

41. Bern (Switzerland)

An aerial photo of Bern. [ Photo by Benutzer:Amstuzmarco / public domain ]

The city of Bern or Berne; French: Berne ; Italian: Berna ; Romansh: Berna ; Bernese German: Bärn) is the Bundesstadt (federal city, de facto capital) of Switzerland, and, with (as of December 2009) a population of 131,000, the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000. Bern is also the capital of the Canton of Bern, the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons. The etymology of the name Bern is uncertain. According to the local legend, based on folk etymology, Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, the founder of the city of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on the hunt, and this turned out to be a bear. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Africa

42. Cairo (Egypt)

The streets of Islamic Cairo, adorned by Islamic architecture, are narrower and older than those in the city centre [ Photo by Joonas Plaan / CC BY 2.0 ]

Cairo (; Arabic: القاهرة‎ al-Qāhira; French: Le Caire, literally "The Vanquisher" or "The Conqueror") is the capital of Egypt, the largest city in Africa and the 16th most populated metropolitan area in the world. The English and French names for the city ("Cairo", and "Le Caire" respectively) are corruptions of its Arabic name "Al-Qahira". Egyptians today often informally refer to Cairo as Maṣr (Arabic: مصر‎), the vernacular Egyptian of Misr, the name for Egypt itself, emphasizing the city's continued central importance in the country. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab World, as well as the world's second-oldest institution of higher learning, al-Azhar University. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

43. Djenné (Mali)

Great Mosque of Djenné [ Photo by Andy Gilham / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Djenné (also Djénné, Jenné and Jenne) is an Urban Commune and town in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 32,944. Administratively it is part of the Mopti Region. Most tourists visit the Monday market and spend only one night in one of the 5 hotels/guest houses. In 2007 the town received around 15,000 visitors of whom 4,200 stayed overnight. Of these just over a third were from France with the remainder coming from a large number of other countries. In 2005 tourism contributed around 450 million CFA francs (687,000 Euro) to the economy of the town. The weather is hot and dry throughout much of the year. Average daily maximum temperatures in the hottest months, April and May, are around 40 °C. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

44. Fes (Morocco)

Ruines fes maroc [ Photo by Zimaal / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Fes or Fez (Arabic: فاس‎ Fās, French: Fès) is the second largest city of Morocco, following Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million (2010). It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region. Fes is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination and many non-Moroccans are now restoring traditional houses (riads and dars) as second homes in the Fes medina. The most important monuments in the city are: Fes, the former capital, is one of the country's four "imperial cities," the others being Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes. It comprises three distinct parts, Fes el Bali (the old, walled city), Fes-Jdid (new Fes, home of the Mellah) and the Ville Nouvelle (the French-created, newest section of Fes). Fes el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (based on awikipedia article / cc by-sa)

45. Marrakesh (Morocco)

Djemaa el Fna square at sunset. [ Photo by NikoSilver / public domain ]

Marrakech or Marrakesh, known as the "Red City", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history. The city of Marrakesh is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, being also the 2nd largest city in Morocco. Like many North African cities, the city of Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz) for a total population of 1,070,000. It is served by Ménara International Airport (IATE code: RAK) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north. Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

46. Meknes (Morocco)

Paesaggio di Meknes, Marocco; Landscape from Meknes [ Photo by Dardorosso / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Meknes (Arabic: مكناس‎, Berber: Meknas or Ameknas, French: Meknès, Spanish: Mequinez) is a city in northern Morocco, located 130 kilometres (81 mi) from the capital Rabat and 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Fes. It is served by the A2 expressway between those two cities and by the corresponding railway. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727), before it was relocated to Marrakech. The population is 985,000 (2010 census). It is the capital of the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Meknes is named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa (native Berber name: Imeknasen) in the medieval North African sources. The original community from which Meknes can be traced was an 8th century Kasbah. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

47. Kano (Nigeria)

Kano view from Dala Hill [ Photo by Shiraz Chakera / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area (LGAs) – Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa – with a population of 2,163,225 at the 2006 Nigerian census. The Metropolitan Area covers 499 sq.km and comprises eight LGAs – the six mentioned above plus Ungogo and Kumbotso – with a population of 2,828,861 at the 2006 Nigerian census. Muhammad Rumfa ascended to the throne in 1463 and reigned until 1499. During his reign, he reformed the city, expanded the Sahelian Gidan Rumfa (Emir's Palace), and played a role in the further Islamization of the city, as he urged prominent residents to convert. The Kano Chronicle attributes a total of twelve "innovations" to Rumfa. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

48. Kairouan (Tunisia)

Ancient cemetery and the Great Mosque. [ Photo by utilisateur:Douya / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Kairouan (Arabic القيروان) (also known as Kirwan, Al Qayrawan), is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia. Referred to as the Islamic Cultural Capital, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670. In the period of Caliph Mu'awiya (reigned 661-680), it became an important centre for Islamic and Quranic learning, and thus attracting a large number of Muslims from various parts of the world, next only to Mecca and Medina. The holy Mosque of Uqba is situated in the city. It is considered by many Muslims to be Islam's fourth holiest city. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)