Zurich is known primarily as one of the world’s most important centers of global finance and banking. Its history is much more dramatic. It initially was settled in the 1^st century BC by a Celtic settlement. In the 9^th century, it was expanded to a Roman fortress and developed rapidly into a trading center. Then Zurich was passed to the Holy Roman Empire, In 1351 it joined the Swiss Confederation, after which its merchants grew wealthy on their trading of leather and many types of textiles. By the 16^th century, however, labor had organized into crafts guilds and sapped power from the merchants. Its prominence and wealth faded considerably during the 17^th and 18^th centuries, only to resume in the 19^th on the basis of industrialization, and increasingly finance.

We had very little time in Zurich but managed time for a one-hour morning walk in its compact Old Town. We spent much of this time exploring:

• Niederdorf, a quaint, hilltop neighborhood with cobblestone alleyways surrounded by 13^th and 14^th-century buildings, numerous with shops, art galleries, and antique galleries;

• Limmatqual is the riverside street that runs next to the Limatt River. The river separates the east and west side of Old Town and is spanned by a number of bridges. The street and the corresponding Wuhre on the west side of the river are lined with large, nicely decorated guild houses.

The city has three iconic buildings:

• Grossmunster, an 11^th-century, Romanesque-Gothic church on the east side of the river, is the largest. Its twin steeples dominate Old Town’s skyline.

• Fraumunster, a Neo-Gothic church on the west side of the river, is smaller but older (begun in 853). While it is particularly noted for its March Chagall stained-glass windows, we visited so early in the morning that the church was not yet open.

• Hauptbahnhof is the city’s railway station. It was completed in 1871 and is the city’s third iconic structures. It has a nicely carved entryway, detailed ceilings over some of its shops and restaurants and a colorful contemporary sculpture hanging from the terminal’s ceiling.

Zurich Hotel

Hotel Wellenberg. This boutique hotel in Old Town was quite nice. Although we had to take a taxi from the airport to get here (taxis are very expensive), we were within easy walking distance to the train station.  What was not to like? The beds and pillows were very comfortable. The room had both a coffee machine and a hot water pot. When we got into the room, we discovered a welcome gift of doughnuts. The shower was strong and had a rain shower or a spray. Breakfast was quite good with cereal, meats cheese, bread scrambled eggs, sausage etc. And the staff was very helpful. The key was a bit unusual. It is a round disc that they put on a rope so that you can put it around your neck. Coffee pot, hot water pot.