Often called 'The Harbour City', Sydney has been the New York of Australia, the place where the First Fleet from England lead Captain Cook arrived on 1770.
Although not being the actual capital of Australia (which is Canberra), Sydney is now the most populated city in the country, and the major hub together with Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
The overall population of Australia is 25 million people, and 5 million of them are based in Sydney. These are crazy numbers, if you think that Italian total population is 66 million and Milan only has 1 million.
Have a look at the map of Australia, that has a size similar to the one of whole Europe!
The Aboriginal Culture
Even if Australia is now known for its multiculturality and diversity, it is to be remembered that the original inhabitants of this land arrived around 50 thousands years ago from South East Asia, it's believed that this happened when this land was still attached to the continent, and were populating many parts of Australia keeping their traditions and spirituality which attached them lots to the earth and Nature.
The land in which Sydney is now located was called Gadigal, and its population the Gadi.
When you move around the city, you can find many inscriptions that describe uses and costumes of this population, that is still present even though in a very restricted number of inhabitants.
The Suburbs
Being a big city, Sydney does not only have the city centre which is worth visiting. Instead, its suburbs are often a forgotten part during the trip to Australia, but which have lots from which to learn.
Newtown, for example, is composed by a main long street called King Street, that stretches from the area of Broadway and and continues up until St. Peters and Sydney Park.
It is full of shops, and has a vibrant vibe of hippy and alternative style.
Although it might seem that the area was called to contrast a "old town" in another part of the city, its name originates from a shop that opened there in 1832 and named "New Town Stores".
Another beautiful Suburb that left a scar in my experience in Belmain. This is also one of the oldest neighburhood and is located on the peninsula left of Pyremont, which puts it very close to Darling Habour.
Sydneysiders define it 'village type' and 'family-friendly'. The most beautiful things about this place are the breathtaking views of the Bay and the lookouts on the iconic Sydney Bridge and the skyline of the city.
A great way to reach Belmain is either by bus, or hopping on a ferry from Circular Quay and travelling over the waters in a romantic and fascinating style.
The Opera House
When I first landed in Sydney, with a JetStar flight from Hawaii, I honestly did not have much knowledge of the city. My decision to come here had not been too long premeditated, so I hadn't had the time to search for information or talk to people who had visited it before me.
But of one thing I was sure: the Opera House.
The Opera House is located on the second most important harbour of the city, the Sydney Harbour, and in front of the famous Harbour Bridge.
It is a quite recent architectural piece of art, as it celebrated this in 2023, 50 years of opening, under the Queen Elizabeth II reign in 1973.
In front of it, the imponent bridge marks the second landmark of the city. This is the famous place where the fireworks happen over New Years Eve.
As you could understand, Australia is a controversial country. While its population is one of the most ancient of the world, it s recent history is very young and many aspects of its culture are still being created and built.
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