Ottawa
It is the federal capital and fourth largest city in Canada. The English-speaking population predominates, although all the city's municipal services are bilingual (English and French). On December 31, 1857, the city was chosen by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom to be the capital, as it was a neutral territory in the eyes of the English and French speaking communities. It is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River. It is a technological center, where more than 800 companies dedicated to the creation and development of software, environmental technology, space research and telecommunications are based, which is why it has earned the nickname "National Capital of High Technology." Another very important source of income for the city is tourism with 7,000,000 visitors annually. It is a cosmopolitan city that can be enjoyed in different ways during each season. It features expansive, captivating green spaces that become fitness centers in the warmer months, more than 600 kilometers of scenic biking trails, and the Rideau Canal waterway that transforms into the world's largest ice skating rink. largest in the world when it freezes in winter.
As for tourist attractions, these would be the essential ones:
- Parliament Hill: It is the seat of Canada's national government and the scene of national celebrations throughout the year. Every morning during the summer months the changing of the guard ceremony takes place on the meadow in front of Parliament Hill; In the evening the public is again invited to admire the impressive sound and light spectacle: spectacular lighting effects and dazzling gigantic images projected, with text and music, onto the parliament buildings. In December, it is bathed in bright colors with the theme “Christmas Lights Across Canada.” The Parliament is probably the best-known monument in the city. It is a 19th century building in which the Peace Tower stands out, 93 meters high. Access is permitted and recommended if you want to enjoy one of the most spectacular views of the city. It houses inside the House of Commons, the lower house of the country, a beautiful chamber that is the center of the country's political life.
- Centennial Flame: It is a monument located on Parliament Hill that commemorates the centenary of Canadian Confederation. It was lit for the first time in 1967. It is surrounded by a fountain that, due to the fire that burns on the water, does not freeze, even in the middle of winter.
- Market ByWard:For almost 200 years this public market has been the place where artisans, farmers and craft merchants gather year-round to sell their wares and specialty items. Located in the city centre, a short distance from Parliament Hill, this market is also home to numerous cafes and some of the best bars and restaurants in the city. When the lights come on, the market becomes one of the places in the city where you can go to have a drink late at night and listen to some live music.
- Rideau Canal:It is a historic waterway and an important tourist spot that from spring to autumn is filled with pleasure boats and, in winter, becomes the largest natural ice rink in the world . It runs through the city center before connecting to the Ottawa River via stepped locks just off Parliament Hill. It has various trails and tree-lined walks and parks in its vicinity. It is a charming place declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007.
- Canadian Museum of History: It is the most popular museum and visited from Canada. Its main objective is to collect, study, conserve and present material objects that reflect the human history of Canada and the cultural diversity of its population. It is recognized and valued among its visitors for its permanent exhibition halls, which span 20,000 years of the country's history, as well as the building's architecture and notable location on the banks of the Ottawa River. It is one of the oldest cultural institutions in North America.
- Church of Notre Dame: It is a minor Catholic basilica located in the Lower Town . It was considered a historic Canadian site in 1990. Its main building was completed in 1946. It was renovated and restored in the late 1990s. Masses are held in French and English.
