Second but first. Second in terms of number of inhabitants but first in terms of quality of life. Not in Australia: throughout the world. Melbourne has earned this recognition for years but it doesn’t stop there. It has been hailed as the cultural capital of Australia and the role of a garden city is not denied. In short, Melbourne is the destination for those who want to discover the cool and intellectual face of the great continent. So here is a small guide to Melbourne, the most liveable city in the world.
The city of Melbourne is the capital of the State of Victoria and is made up of over 30 municipalities which together reach four million inhabitants: even if we will start from the historic center and the meeting point for a large number of inhabitants. Who obviously live happy: the Economist magazine has in fact compiled the ranking of the most livable cities in the world by comparing one hundred and forty of them. For Visa Inquiry Click here
For the fifth year in a row, Melbourne is in first place with 97.5 out of 100. The criteria? The wealth, the size, the low population density, the low crime rate and the efficiency of the infrastructures. All things that are obviously at the top here: let’s pick up the guide to Melbourne, a happy city and let’s go and discover it.
Melbourne Guide: let’s Start from the Square:
It is called Federation square and it is much more than a square. It is basically a stone-paved block where cultural and sporting events are held but around which restaurants, clubs, museums and places of attraction revolve. According to a recent calculation, about 2000 events take place here every year: if you calculate that it can accommodate up to ten thousand people, it is easy to understand how busy it is.
Among the palaces and cultural centers that overlook Federation square is The Atrium, a glass and steel gallery that hosts exhibitions next to an amphitheater where shows are held non-stop: since it can rain they have covered it. Not enough for you? Know that just a stone’s throw away, you can see beyond the windows, the Melbourne Cricket Ground rises. It tells you little because for those who love this sport it is a temple: it is the largest cricket stadium in the world built in 1853, only twenty years after the founding of the city. And if you happen to attend a meeting it is a real event.
But it’s time for us to turn back to the square. Although the tour is far from over because it also houses the most modern museum in the world dedicated to moving images and the local art gallery. A case? In no way. The first feature film, more than an hour long, was shot right here, in 1906. And the art of the aborigines has its cradle here. In short, calling Federation square just a square is very little.
Traveling on the old tram:
But the journey must continue: and it is time to go beyond the discovery of Melbourne and its many surprises. The simplest, free and most suggestive way is the tram. To be precise, the City Circle Tram that runs through the city center with its historic carriages. To guide tourists, an audio commentary explains what you are seeing and then just go up to Federation square to browse, among others, the City Museum, the Parliament. The service is active from 10 am to 6 pm (on weekends until 9 pm) and a tram runs every 12 minutes.
Strolling through the city center:
But now it’s time to get off the tram and start walking discovering the narrow streets of the center. Here the traffic is limited and it is pleasant to walk looking at the windows of small shops, galleries and clothing stores. Every now and then, for a stop, there are clubs of all kinds. If you like ethnicity and fusion, you will be at home.
Among the things not to be missed reported by the Melbourne guide there are in fact the welcoming clubs of Degraves Street and Center Place while those who cannot live without spaghetti must focus on Liverpool Street or Hardware Lane. The array of restaurants on these streets is bewildering. For fashion, the right addresses are on Little Collins Street or Flonders Lane. Finally, after dinner or to have fun in the evening, the locals Meyers Place, where the choice between the premises for a cocktail or listening to music will satisfy every taste.
