Quezi

Belfast - courtesy lyng883 - CC-BY

Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland, the largest city in the United Kingdom’s Irish province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of Ireland.

Belfast has been occupied since the Bronze Age. Belfast has been the capital of Northern Ireland since its establishment in 1921 following the Government of Ireland Act in 1920. Belfast was bombed heavily during World War II. Since then, it has also been the scene of various episodes of conflict between its Roman Catholic and Protestant populations.

For architecture buffs, the city has many Victorian and Edwardian buildings complete with elaborate sculptures over door and window openings. Stone carved heads of gods, poets, scientists, kings and queens look down from the high ledges of commercial buildings and old linen warehouses. On week nights the city center resembles a ghost town, though Belfast continues to thrive culturally with music, theater and the visual arts all flourishing. Security measures in the city have been relaxed and most of the barriers have been removed. However, the blockade known as the Peace Line still bisects the Catholic and Protestant communities of West Belfast.

Shopping in Belfast has changed considerably in the last few years with an increase in the number and variety of shopping outlets. The city now has an exceptional array of independent boutiques, shopping centers, markets, speciality stores, craft, art and antique outlets. Until just a few years ago, dining out in Belfast meant either sitting down to an Ulster Fry, or having a sirloin steak, well done, served with a mountain of chips (french fries). It is no wonder that Northern Ireland came second only to Scotland for heart disease. However, the city culinary scene has now changed. In Belfast you’ll find every kind of restaurant you could wish for, many of which have won prestigious awards.

Frommer’s, the travel guidebook series, has Belfast as the only United Kingdom location in its ‘Top 12 Destinations to Visit in 2009.’

Belfast has a temperate climate. Its average daily high temperatures are 18 C (64 F) in July and 6 C (43 F) in January.

Belfast is served by Belfast International Airport.  Public transportation is bus, metro and taxi.

Belfast population is 267,500.

44 is the international calling code for the United Kingdom.
2890 is the area code for Belfast

For more information about Belfast