Melbourne guide: what to see among museums, beaches and surroundings

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 was hailed as cultural capital of Australia and the role of is not denied garden city. 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 formed by over 30 town halls which together reach i four millions of the people living there: even if we will start from the historic center and from the meeting point for a large number of inhabitants. Who evidently live happily: the Economist magazine in fact it has drawn up the ranking of the most livable cities in the world by comparing one hundred and forty of them.

For the fifth year in a row, Melbourne is first place with 97.5 out of 100. 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 take the Melbourne guide in hand, happy city and let’s go and discover it.

Melbourne guide: we start from the square

Is called Federation square and it is much more than a square. It is basically a stone-paved block where cultural and sporting events take place but around which they revolve restaurants, clubs, museums and places of attraction. According to a recent calculation, approx 2000 events: if you calculate that it can accommodate up to ten thousand people, it is easy to understand how busy it is.

Between the palaces and cultural centers that overlook Federation square is located The Atriumone glass and steel gallery which 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 two steps away, you can see beyond the windows, rises the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 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 the most modern is also found here museum in the world dedicated to moving images and the local art gallery. A case? In no way. The first feature filmmore than an hour long, was shot right here, in 1906. And the art of aborigines he has his 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 which 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, 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 in 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 the ethnic and the fusion you will be at home.

Among the things not to be missed reported by the Melbourne guide there are in fact the welcoming locals of Degraves Street And Center Place while those who cannot live without spaghetti must focus on Liverpool Street or Hardware Lane. The array of Italian restaurants in these streets is bewildering. For fashion the right addresses are in 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.

A curiosity for those who love the genre: between Bank Place and Miter Lane is found the oldest pub in town as every Melbourne guide tells. Visit it: discovering the city with a pint in hand will be more fun.

Discovering Brunswick Street

Are you not tired yet and want to discover new corners of the city? You aim right then at Brunswick Street, one of the most animated streets in the center where the inhabitants meet in perfect hipsters look, sharing the informal style that is always linked in Melbourne to an artistic and elegant touch. Here i wine bar fashionable are side by side with the second-hand clothing shops and avant-garde galleries. Then there is everything for the throat: in Johnston Street tapas are snapped up while Smith Street it is invaded by the scent of Greek and Middle Eastern meze.

In this area, music and theater festivals are held in autumn as well as in spring when the International Comedy Festival takes place. This is also an idea: come to discovery of Melbourne laughing.

Do you want something less trendy? Among the places to visit told by the Melbourne guide there is also this. Head to the Queen Victoria Market the most popular market in the capital of Victoria and the most liveable city in the world. Here among the stalls you can find all the ingredients for cooking but check the hours carefully: it is a market. That is, it opens early in the morning and closes early in the afternoon.

Melbourne, its vineyards and the sea

But now it’s time to get out of the city and discover the surroundings. And the many secrets of Melbourne between sea and nature. Heading east, after about an hour of travel, you will arrive at the Yarra valley, la home of wine production which is growing in fame all over the world. In the valley there are over 120 wineries and their wines, especially those based on chardonnay and pinot noir, deserve a stop and more than a tasting.

If, on the other hand, you also want a sea view, start the engine and go to the Mornington Peninsula, where the vineyards slope down to the ocean. It is a journey to be tackled without haste by stopping on the beaches of Sorrento Ocean beach And Portsea and bathing in an area that has long been chosen by Melbourne’s wealthy as a refuge in their beautiful blue-facing villas. Choosing the roads towards the interior, instead, you return between hills covered with vineyards as a Red Hill. Then the Melbourne Secrets Route points to the National Park Mornington Peninsula. For another taste of nature.

But if nature is what you are looking for there is much more to discover by scrolling through the Melbourne guide. In fact, just follow the Great Ocean Road to admire some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. This 235 km long road follows the coast up to the stop that no one will ever miss: the ai Twelve apostleshuge rock towers that come out of the waves for over forty meters.

The meeting with the Twelve Apostles

From Melbourne to get there it takes about four hours but the advice is to take longer to stop for a swim and long snorkeling sessions in the beaches along the way. TO Port Campbell then the show of Twelve Apostles that you will be amazed not to be twelve. This is also one of Melbourne’s secrets: these rocks have millions of years on their backs and are subject to collapse. There are now eight in fact. The last one collapsed about 4 years ago.