TALLINN, ESTONIA

Tallinn, the capital of the Republic of Estonia, a small, but unusually beautiful medieval city on the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.

Throughout its stormy history, despite the changing foreign rulers, wars, fires and reconstruction, the city has nevertheless retained its beauty and integrity untouched, maintaining its medieval environment and atmosphere. In fact, one of the main values of Tallinn is that a large share of the old buildings has been preserved almost undamaged, which turns it into one of the best-preserved medieval trading towns in the whole of Europe.

The present Tallinn area was first inhabited approximately in the end of the 10^th century, when the Estonian tribes built a stronghold on the Toompea hill, in the immediate vicinity of the port, thanks to its advantageous location near to the sea and the position at the East-West trading route.

Crusaders led by King Valdemar II of Denmark conquered the Tallinn stronghold in 1219, built their own fortress there and began the seven-hundred-year period, during which the town was ruled by foreigners. The official name of the town until the beginning of the 20^th century was Reval.

Tallinn was 50% flatten during the World War II. It has been reconstructed preserving its medieval history. There are 1.3 million residents living in Estonia and 440 thousand residents in Tallinn. Estonia received their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. They have a Parliament that elects a President. Presently they have a female President. Estonia is on the same latitude as southern Alaska, so they have the same weather.  Today it was a beautiful sun shinning day in the 50’s. People were in the large market square at side walk cafes enjoying themselves.

Estonia is a member of the EU and NATO. They have six State Universities and a literacy rate of 99.9%.