Dublin

The Abbey Theatre, also known as the National Theatre of Ireland, was founded in 1904 by the Nobel Prize winner William Butler and Lady Augusta Gregory. It has played a vital and often controversial role in the literary, social and cultural life of Ireland. With its diverse theatre productions, some of which are the largest in the world, the theatre attracts many foreign visitors each year.

Founded in 1028 and the principal church of the Diocese of Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral is the spiritual heart of the city and one of its most important tourist attractions. The interior is of particular cultural interest, as is the medieval crypt. The Cathedral was an important place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages.
 

Built in 1255 in honour of the Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Cathedral has been restored and extended many times. From 1320 and for the following two centuries it was the site of the country’s first university. Inside it houses various funerary monuments including the tomb of the Boyle family.  
 

The castle is the symbol of Dublin’s old town. The city in fact takes its name from the Black Pool - Dubh Linn located on the site of the current castle. The castle sits between the River Liffey and its tributary the Poddle, and today it is the seat of the Irish Presidency and the European Community. The State Apartments and the Royal Chapel are open to the public.

The National Gallery opened its doors to the public in January 1854. The collection today is made up of over 2,500 paintings and approximately 10,000 other works, including water colours, drawings, prints and sculptures. One of its collections is devoted to Ireland’s famous paintings. The success of the gallery is mostly due to the purchase of important works by famous European and Irish artists.  
 

The Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) is the leading Irish national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art. The museum displays a wide variety of art in a dynamic programme of exhibitions, which include groups of works from its collection. The museum is housed in the magnificent Royal Hospital, a building dating back to the 17^th century.
 

Situated in a magnificent eighteenth-century residence, the collection of the Dublin Writers Museum features works by literary celebrities from the city of the last three hundred years. These include four Nobel prize-winners and many other internationally famous writers. Swift, Sheridan, Shaw, Wilde, Yeats, Joyce and Beckett are presented through their works, portraits and personal items. The museum hosts exhibitions, theatre performances and readings, and also provides a room devoted to children’s literature.

The Old Jameson Distillery in the heart of Dublin offers an interesting experience. It tells the story of John Jameson & Son, which with three simple ingredients (water, barley and yeast) created the most Ireland’s famous whiskey. A free Jameson whiskey is offered at the end of the tour.
 

The zoo is located inside Phoenix Park (700 hectares) and houses approximately 600 animals. Education and conservation are combined to create an unforgettable experience. Open every day of the year.