The historic English city with Roman roots was crowned the world’s most beautiful city according to research
One English city is steeped in Roman history(Image: Bardhok Ndoji via Getty Images)
Sitting in northwest England close to the Welsh border, this historic city is steeped in centuries of history. Chester’s story stretches back almost 2,000 years.
The city was founded as Deva Victrix, a major Roman fortress, around AD 79. Today, traces of its Roman past can still be found throughout Chester, including the remains of its impressive amphitheatre and parts of the original fortress.
One of Chester’s biggest attractions is its remarkably well-preserved city walls. The roughly two-mile circuit follows the route of the city’s historic defences and offers a unique way to explore Chester, taking in many of its best-known landmarks along the way.
‘Most beautiful’ city
Chester has been previously crowned the most beautiful city in the world. Taking the top spot with an impressive 83.7% “beauty score” based on the “golden ratio”, Chester had seen off fierce competition from Edinburgh, Bristol, Prague, Venice and even Rome to claim the coveted title.
The research, carried out by Online Mortgage Advisor, used Google Street View to assess the architectural grandeur of thousands of homes, landmarks and streets from across the globe.
While the study ranked cities on their built environment, its foundations are firmly rooted in the world of art.
Explaining the significance of the golden ratio in the art world, it noted: “Artists over the last few centuries have incorporated the golden ratio into their work, believing it to be a gold standard in natural aesthetic perfection,” reports the Express.
Perhaps nothing gives Chester its distinctive character quite like The Rows.
These unusual two-level, covered walkways run through the heart of the city centre, with shops, cafés and restaurants lining the galleries.
The medieval structures are among Chester’s most recognisable features and give the city centre an atmosphere unlike many other places in England.
Meanwhile, the magnificent Chester Cathedral is another highlight, with a history spanning centuries and architecture ranging from the Norman period through to the Victorian era.
The Eastgate Clock has also become one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Perched above the Eastgate section of the city walls, it is an especially popular spot for photographs.
Walkable city
Despite officially being a city, Chester’s compact historic centre has a distinctly smaller-town feel.
Visitors can wander between independent shops, pubs, cafés and restaurants while surrounded by timber-framed, black-and-white buildings that give parts of the city an almost storybook appearance.
Beyond the centre, the surrounding Cheshire countryside provides plenty of opportunities to escape the bustle.
Chester’s location also makes it a convenient base for exploring North Wales, while Liverpool and Manchester are both within easy reach.
It is no wonder that Chester draws visitors from across the globe, with many leaving glowing five-star reviews on Tripadvisor.
John J was thoroughly impressed during a visit, saying: “Chester really is a beautiful town.”
He added: “The Chester Rows are just what makes Chester. Beautiful old buildings kept in remarkable condition. Walking around and seeing the history and beauty is so enjoyable. Sampled some nice food and pubs.”
During a visit to the cathedral, Sue. W called it “magnificient inside and out”.
She added: “This cathedral is magnificent. It is large so takes some time to get round it and do it justice. The craftsmanship inside is superb from the stone masonry to the tiled floors and the wooden carving to the stained glass.”
What is the ‘golden ratio’?
For centuries, artists have woven the ‘golden ratio’ into their creations, regarding it as the ultimate benchmark of natural aesthetic perfection.
By applying the ratio to measure buildings and iconic landmarks, experts have been able to determine which cities across the UK and the wider world can boast the most stunning architecture.
Other British cities that made the grade include London and Belfast, scoring 83% and 82.9% respectively.
On the global stage, Chester was closely followed by Venice, which scored 83.3%; Rome, with 82%; and the Spanish city of Barcelona rounding things off with 81.9% on the scale.