In 1828, Paris was the first city in Europe to light its streets with gas lamps. Prior to this the city was also considered the centre of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment, which covered the years 1685-1815.
2. Rome (Italy)
Answer: The Eternal City
Rome is over 2800 years of age and due to its growth, power, size, culture and traditions it has attracted politicians, musicians and artists etc. The city has been called the Eternal City as far back as the 1st century BC.
3. New York (USA)
Answer: The Big Apple
The Big Apple nickname originated during the 1920s when prizes were rewarded at the numerous horse racing tracks around New York City. The prizes were huge and became known or referred to as "big apples". The nickname for the city only became official in 1971.
4. Dublin (Ireland)
Answer: The Fair City
The nickname has come about by the opening lines of the song "Molly Malone". The opening line of the song is "Dublin's fair city, where the girls are so pretty..." The song was actually written in Edinburgh in 1883 by James Yorkston. There is a statue of Molly Malone in Dublin.
5. Auckland (New Zealand)
Answer: The City of Sails
Auckland is situated on a small tongue of land surrounded by water. There are numerous marinas in the city harbour resulting in the nickname the "City of Sails".
6. Adelaide (Australia)
Answer: The City of Churches
When Adelaide was founded in 1836 it was the first Australian city to be settled by free men and not as a penal colony. The city was also an example of religious freedom and tolerance. The city gets its nickname not because of the number of churches but because of the diversity of religions.
7. Prague (Czech Republic)
Answer: The City of 100 Spires
If you ever see a panoramic view of the city you will understand the nickname. The phrase was first coined in the 19th century when a mathematician counted the spires. Today that number is nearly 500.
8. Lima (Peru)
Answer: The City of Kings
The city was originally named in 1535 as the "Cuidad de Los Reyes" (City of Kings). The city was founded on the religious Catholic holiday of the "Three Kings Day", sometimes in English referred to as the three wise men. It was not long after this, that the city was renamed Lima, as the Incas called the area "Limaq". However, the nickname still to this date refers to the original name.
9. Vienna (Austria)
Answer: The City of Music
Many famous classical musicians such as Mozart and Beethoven called Vienna their home. It therefore became known as the "City of Music". It is also at times referred to as the "City of Dreams" as it was the home of Sigmund Freud, the world's first psychoanalyst.
10. Barcelona (Spain)
Answer: The City of Counts
Known in Catalan as "Cuitat Comtal" or in Spanish "Cuidad Condal" which means "City of Counts". The nickname comes from the city's history as the seat of the Counts of Barcelona. This dates from the 9th to 18th century when Barcelona was a county and governed by counts.
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