A green oasis in the middle of the thick urban landscape, the beautiful island-park of Stanley Park spans 400 hectares. The park is not only the world’s largest uninterrupted waterfront path, but also a measure against flood risk. When construction on Stanley Seawall began in 1917, its design was intended as a measure of flood protection along the waterfront edge of Vancouver’s Stanley Park. The park expertly combines environmental resilience with everyday recreational use. Today, it is home to kilometers of trails, beautiful beaches and numerous landmarks. It is without a doubt one of the most beloved spots in the city for both pedestrians and cyclists.

We Are All Colors 11 – 13 January 2019 Tobacco City, Kapana – Creative District, The Main Pedestrian Street, Tsar Boris III Obedinitel Blvd., The Ancient Theater Opening of Plovdiv European Capital of Culture 2019 WE ARE MOST THRILLED TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF THE ECOC 2019 WITH THE MOST ATTRACTIVE AND MOMENTOUS HIGHLIGHT IN ITS PROGRAMME – THE ‘WE ARE ALL COLORS’ SHOW. Over the course of an extended weekend a series of events will take place at various in- and outdoor spaces across the city. Its peak will be on Saturday, 12 January. The very heart of Plovdiv will welcome the ceremony. The show, combining music, light and dance, will give the key to the whole year ahead and to the basic concept of the European Capital of Culture project, in which the citizens themselves are not only audiences and actors, but also creators of events. More than 1500 participants from Bulgaria and abroad will recreate on the open stage a large and colorful metaphor of all the main themes of the programme ‘Plovdiv 2019’ and their relationships under the motto ‘Together’. The ECOC opening event is produced by the Plovdiv 2019 Foundation in partnership with international organizations, the major cultural institutions in Plovdiv, Plovdiv Municipality, artists and performers from Bulgaria and abroad. The concept of the event is created by the German artistic network phase7 performing.arts Berlin, artistic director Sven Sören Beyer. The opening weekend programme is made jointly with partner organizations from Plovdiv and Bulgaria.

The Crawford Art Gallery is home to more than 2,000 artworks, both Irish and international. The scope is broad, touching on everything from Greek and Roman sculptures to contemporary art. Many of the exhibits nod to Cork's history as a trading port, as well as the city's unique perspective and character.

For panoramic views of the city, look no further than Elizabeth Fort. Built in the 17th century, the fort endured revolts, sieges, and civic unrest — it was even converted into a prison in 1835. This fortress is steeped in local history, and a portion of it is open for public tours.