DERRY

Often called the "Cockpit of The Troubles" and Stroke City. A seminal event of the Troubles known as "Bloody Sunday" occurred in Derry on January 30, 1972, when British troops shot dead 13 Catholics during a civil rights march. Yet despite being a microcosm of Northern Ireland in its poverty and threatened violence, in its resilience, optimism, humor and joie de vivre, Derry is charming. In terms of conventional sightseeing, the city's top attraction is its 17th-century walls, some of the most complete in Europe. The city center within the walls contains old-fashioned shops and bars, as well as the spruce Derry Craft Village where you can buy crystal, linen T-towels and other local products.

The 17th-century Protestant St. Columb's Cathedral holds relics of the siege and Cecil Alexander, who wrote the famous hymn that begins, "There is a green hill far away/without a city wall" inspired by Derry's settings.

Visitor Info: Visit Derry