Oxford,home
of one of the oldest University in the World, an emblematic cultural symbol,the intellectual soul of England and named city of dreaming spires,nickname derived by that great work by Matthew Arnold,who in his outstanding poem Thyrsis,depicted the British city for the superb architectonic silhouette of the buildings of its iconic University.
Sublime product of a distinguished history generated by people who with their knowledge and skills have made the history of the culture of the country and the Globe.Over centuries,the fame of Oxford is mainly linked to that cultural and study Institution but it also revolves around economy,industry,many relevant companies has chosen it as site for their headquarters,home of the famous mechanical manufacturer,the Morris Motor Company's Industry is known throughout the world for the realisation of the emblematic "Mini", and steel processing,all that placed that British centre as one of the most distinctive icons of Great Britain.
Sublime product of a distinguished history generated by people who with their knowledge and skills have made the history of the culture of the country and the Globe.Over centuries,the fame of Oxford is mainly linked to that cultural and study Institution but it also revolves around economy,industry,many relevant companies has chosen it as site for their headquarters,home of the famous mechanical manufacturer,the Morris Motor Company's Industry is known throughout the world for the realisation of the emblematic "Mini", and steel processing,all that placed that British centre as one of the most distinctive icons of Great Britain.
Crossed by two rivers,the Thames and the Cherwell River Thames,with approximately 120.000 inhabitants, the name of Oxford,according historical documents and written sources derives from Oksnaford Saxon Village,all began with the founding of the Convent of
St. Fridesvida in the 8th century and the the name came from a perfect place to cross the river Thames meaning a ford for oxen.
With a large influx of tourists all year but especially in summer.Oxford is a very cosmopolitan city,most of the inhabitants are students from other British areas or from other European countries,including a relevant number of immigrants employed in the engineering industries of the hinterland. and all that gives Oxford a cosmopolitan and vibrant aspect conserving in any case a very peaceful atmosphere.
With a large influx of tourists all year but especially in summer.Oxford is a very cosmopolitan city,most of the inhabitants are students from other British areas or from other European countries,including a relevant number of immigrants employed in the engineering industries of the hinterland. and all that gives Oxford a cosmopolitan and vibrant aspect conserving in any case a very peaceful atmosphere.
The city is not too big,its
historic centre is on human scale and you can easily move around reaching all the most important points in a very short time,but it is not
advisable to move the car,the traffic is generally intense and there are few
parking spaces.The central core is surrounded by rivers and streams at east, south and
west and it can be explored without problems on foot.The train station is west of
the centre while the bus station is close the centre of Gloucester Green,it is also
famous the historical rivalry with the University of Cambridge also celebrated in a famous Regatta known and popular worldwide,an endlessantagonism which is also linked and related to two different cultures,styles, philosophies,identities,historic past trying to be one most important than the other,all that created a sort of legendary and captivating challenge who in its kind captured the attention and the interest of people from all around the world.
Historically,the former town was an important military centre,situated at the border between the Kingdoms of Mercy and Wessex, which despite looting, plundering and attempts to conquer boasted a fair development.Soon the city's history is intertwined with that period of the prestigious universities and the date of foundation is uncertain and could have occurred several times in different occasions,but there is evidence of the presence of a centre for learning and teaching at least since the year 1096 .The University of Oxford, however, is mentioned for the first time in documents of the 12th century and much more in the 13th century, a period in which that site,also started to be an important centre very active in trading, manufacturing of products,production of fabric,leather and wool.
During the Civil War, in thee year 1642,Oxford hosted
the Court of Charles I after the King was driven from London,although
the city sided with Oliver Cromwell.At the end of the 18th and
19th century Oxford had an important development and it was the time when were built major
works of communication,such as Oxford Canal and Oxford-London
rail lines,Great Western Railway and London and North Western
Railway,all that next to all what there was already established consecrated the city as a relevant centre of the United Kingdom,its name and popularity undoubtedly reached outstanding levels.In the early 20th century, Oxford was affected by rapid and
intense industrial and population growth,the publishing industries in
particular,became important in the 20s and also at that time,William
Morris founded the Morris Motor Company which began a massive production
of cars.That success generated that In the early 70's, more than 20.000 people were employed at the
factory of Morris Motors and also Pressed Steel Fisher.
The
University of Oxford is the oldest in Great Britain and since centuries ago a dream place of several students in the world.With the increase of pupils incoming began the friction
with the local population and several riots broke out in 1209 by some
teachers and students who fled to found. The colleges of Oxford
appeared with more influence since the 13th century and currently,all the complex
includes 36 colleges with approximately 14.500 students.Although the city is
not just for academics,the University certainly has shaped the contours
and spirit of Oxford and it seems that a conflict between the King who led to the
creation of what became the first Francophone university in the world.
Henry II in contrast with Philip Augustus of France in 1167 forbade
English students to attend to the University of Paris and in Oxford they
have kept lessons in the 11th century.In the year 1188 the historian and
clergyman Gerald of Wales lectured to a group of university students and in
1190 was admitted the first foreign student,Emo of Friesland a
Dutch,who became later first prior of the Abbey Bloemhof in
Wittewierum and apart all that he also wrote the first part of the chronicles of that famous Abbey in Holland.
The famed University has had in its history 25
students who received the emblematic Nobel Prize and important people studied there some distinguished names are Albert Einstein who studied at Christ Church College,Oscar
Wilde and King Edward VII at Magdalen College at Christ Church
College Margaret Thatcher and Indira Ghandi at Somerville College,Tony
Blair at St.John´s College,Paul Getty at St.Catherine College,William
Morris at Exeter College,Adam Smith,King Olav V and King Harald of
Norway at Balliol College and the list is really very very long.
Today
each college has its own students who usually live there all year and the
university organises courses, examinations and award degrees,but most
of students life at colleges is around the gravity of belonging.Many of the
ceremonies of the various colleges are centuries old, such as the
graduation celebration of the Sheldonian which still takes place in Latin language.The
Magdalene College is probably the richest of all opens all year
round but their hours vary,many are closed in the morning.Among them
St Merton's the most famous college,whose main entrance was
built by Christopher Wren in the year 1680.
The heart of Oxford
is typically and mainly medieval,walled and with a large square where the covered
market is a great highlight with residents and tourists busy to buy and find
all kinds of items, from tools of local crafts such as hats,handmade articles,old books,original ornaments and many other interesting objects.during the visit do not miss the Ashmolean Museum,the oldest
in Europe,a very prestigious gallery,with impressive collections
including works by Raphael and Michelangelo,as well as relevant oriental collections of great and immense value.
Oxford as Venice also has its Bridge of Sighs.That
bridge is situated in 180 Abingdon Road,it really reminds the famous and charming
Venetian landmark,it was completed in 1914 by Sir Thomas Jackson and it was developed connecting two
buildings of Hertford College.Do not miss a visit to the Cathedral which houses the largest quadrangle of the University and the dining
room of the University was selected as one of the key scenery about
the film Harry Potter.
Walking for the streets of Oxford you can find several remarkable monuments,High Street is always very busy at all hours of the day and you can continue towards the
Town Hall, near which there is the Museum of Oxford, which tells the captivating
story of the city step by step,visiting that exhibition is to learn more
about the essence of that place,a chronological summary of the historical stages of a centre which has created something of extreme importance in the history of a centre and of a country.Further along,you can admire other highlights as the Church of All Saints, the medieval Lincoln College,Oriel College,with the Church of St. Mary the Virgin,behind which there is another symbol of the city,the Redcliffe Room.Not far away is situated the Sheldonian Theatre,which is the place delivering with solemn ceremony the diplomas from Oxford University.
about the essence of that place,a chronological summary of the historical stages of a centre which has created something of extreme importance in the history of a centre and of a country.Further along,you can admire other highlights as the Church of All Saints, the medieval Lincoln College,Oriel College,with the Church of St. Mary the Virgin,behind which there is another symbol of the city,the Redcliffe Room.Not far away is situated the Sheldonian Theatre,which is the place delivering with solemn ceremony the diplomas from Oxford University.
Continuing yet you can meet the
University College All Souls College,New College,the Examination
School, home of the university examinations,and Magdalene College,
which extends in the beautiful green area of the Grove, which crosses
the River Cherwell through the Magdaleine Bridge and it is considered one
of the most beautiful.In front of it lies
also the old Botanic Gardens, the oldest and most prestigious of all Great
Britain,it is the most
oldest botanical garden in the United Kingdom,the first collection is dated 1633 and it holds more than 7100 different species of plant species,subdivided in three sections and pavilions.
Another splendid walk is taking Cornmarket Street and at short distance,you will meet other interesting places such as the Jesus College,the Church of St. Michel, the Oxford
Story,the Martyr's Memorial coming back from there to the Ashmolean Museum.In the northern area if you want to continue to see other prestigious buildings linked to the University,you can admire the
Balliol College,Trinity College,St. John's College famous for its old
library,the Old Music Hall,so famed to host the first concert hall throughout all Great Britain,
and the University Museum,with the neighbouring Pitt Rivers Museum.
You can also enjoy a pleasant walk starting from St. Aldate's Street as well. That road leads to the southern side
of Oxford, and it also has many places of interest,among which surely
the University Complex formed by Christ Church, the Tom Tower and the
Cathedral,which together form the largest College known as The Oxford
House and within which one can visit the Hall and the famous Picture Gallery which
contains an important exhibition of paintings.Not far away you can
then visit two others among of the most important Colleges such as Corpus Christi
College, which is a major library, and Merton College, the oldest of the city.
About
mysteries and legends the city is a great place to enjoy that,so if you are interested about all that do not miss the Oxford Castle Unlocked,there you will
be transported in the past,in a journey of discovery by Oxford more
mysterious sites as the walls of the age-old castle built in 1071 by William
the Conqueror and the Castle regularly organises themed events.
About gastronomy,the city thanks to its cosmopolitan environment offers a wide range of several restaurants and gastropubs offering local cuisine,plates prepared with meat cooked with
fresh seasonal herbs,delicious cheeses,in particular worth a mention,the famous Oxford Blue,and other typical plates of traditional English cuisine such as Pork
Pie,Sheperd Pie,"the traditional Roast Beef and excellent steaks,naturally there is also an ample choice of ethnic restaurants offering a wide range of flavours from the traditional Oriental cuisine such as Indian or Chinese to the European Mediterranean as Italian,Spanish or Greek.
Outside Oxford you can enjoy the beauty of English Countryside,visiting The Living Rainforest,there,
you will have the opportunity to explore a splendid example of forest,thinking you
are not in the Brazilian Amazonian but it is a surprise for everyone because you can find there a wide range of exotic and tropical plants you can also see in that so famous and immense South American place.Visiting the immediate surroundings with other parks, you
can enjoy the service called Park and Ride ,it is a shuttle bus to and from
the five major such as: Thornhill, Redbridge,Seacourt, Peartree and
Water Eaton.
Oxford hosts different kind of events one of them is the famous Oxford Jazz Festival celebrated in April,
another important appointment is the Truck Festival and naturally the famous and prestigious Royal Regatta so popular all around the World. Nightlife in Oxford is very lively,Taylor Theatre is one of the best of England while the Oxford Playhouse
is a site offering different kind of music and along the waterfront,every visitor can live animated evenings thanks the presence of several bars,cafes,clubs and pubs.
The city is just 92,0 km from the Capital of the country London.From Victoria Coach Station just behind the railway station building there are many buses leaving for Oxford that will get through in about one hour and twenty minutes.By train Great Western Trains provides intercity service from London,with departure from Paddington Station.By car you can reach Oxford from the English Capital taking the M40 motorway.When you are in the city.you can use Oxford Bus Company,which offers different types of tickets ,including the rechargeable card key available in 3 different versions.
The city is just 92,0 km from the Capital of the country London.From Victoria Coach Station just behind the railway station building there are many buses leaving for Oxford that will get through in about one hour and twenty minutes.By train Great Western Trains provides intercity service from London,with departure from Paddington Station.By car you can reach Oxford from the English Capital taking the M40 motorway.When you are in the city.you can use Oxford Bus Company,which offers different types of tickets ,including the rechargeable card key available in 3 different versions.
Oxford is one of the historical and cultural gems of Great Britain,a destination you can not miss when you are in the United Kingdom,it is a piece of history of that country and of the World,a must to discover something simply special,the atmosphere and all there is inside that captivating centre is absolutely unique and an experience simply unique for every tourist,there are not other Oxford,only one with all its enchanting and magnetic atmosphere.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotel in Oxford
Burlington House Hotel
Marlborough House Hotel
The Old Bank Hotel
The Galaxie Hotel
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