Scotland (in Scottish Gaelic, Alba) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom, located in the northern part of the island of Great Britain. In addition to the mainland, Scotland includes over 790 islands.
Edinburgh, the country's capital and second largest city, was the hub of the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century, which transformed Scotland into one of the commercial, intellectual and industrial powerhouses of Europe and is today one of Europe's largest financial centres.
Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, was once one of the world's leading industrial cities, and Aberdeen, the third largest city in Scotland, has the title of Europe's oil capital.
Throughout the centuries, Scotland has preserved its culture and therefore, its national identity.
