Ciutat Vella and the Old Town of Edinburgh are both the Medieval areas of each city. The Old Town of Edinburgh has a very unique structure, with the High street which runs from the historic castle on the top of a volcanic rock to the Palace of Holyrood. The High Street forms what is known as the fish bone, with all the small streets and ´closes´.
The two different areas, Ciutat Vella, share many similarities, for instance the density of the buildings, for example in Edinburgh overcrowding became so extreme they had to extend the city. It is perhaps the density which can make both barrios, Gotico in particular, very difficult to navigate and at times a little disorientating.
The structure of the two different barrios is quite different, but they share in common the small, narrow streets. In Edinburgh it is in these small narrow streets that some of the darkest secrets are kept. Edinburgh also has a series of underground streets, creating almost another city under the city.
Due to the high density of the barrios, public spaces tend to be smaller, more intimate, taking for example the beautiful Plazas in Gotico and in Edinburgh the Grassmarket. Once a lively market square where hangings would also take place the square has retained it´s character to this day.
