Egelion

[Louis]

In a world that often gets lost in the common stream of politics, conflict, economic woes, and tension, culture and belonging gets lost behind--trapped behind a wall that is so difficult to ignore. In Egelion, culture and belonging has long been a national strategy for relevance and for prestige. From funding the arts to funding longstanding educational institutions, culture is not in the backseats. For several years already, Egelion has taken pride and poured billions of crowns into making housing and architecture a main focus. Starting with the national city beautification program in 5629, the nation took several steps to change the architecture of cities and homes altogether. Named "Enlightened Architecture", the nation focused on making buildings more "culturally significant and elegant" instead of focusing on the speed of their construction. It became a focus of quality over quantity. This effort made cities in Egelion more diverse, beautiful, and visually appealing. This program however focused much of its resources on Altea itself as it quickly became a global financial hub and popular tourists destination. Now, 100 years later, Altea stands as one of the most, if not the most, beautiful cities in Terra. Years of special planning, research, and investments created a city that focuses on quality of materials, aesthetic, and efficiency instead of the glorified concrete jungles in other Terran nations.

The Altea metro area has a population of over 8 million people, according to the last record taken by the Royal Government. Within this labyrinth of marble, gold, stone, and glass exists an area of diverse districts and several neighborhoods. There are 14 different districts in Altea, each with their own distinct vibes and cultures. Some of the more relevant and visited districts are: Centro, Distrito Real, and Sorsuela. At each turn, you will find canals, bridges, statues of Egelian culture, and wonderful buildings that are pleasing to the eye. Pollution levels in the city's inner districts are even low thanks to several initiatives taken by city leadership. Overall the city remains a popular location to visit. In the wintertime, the city shines as the snowy weather illuminates the buildings and statues. Locals enjoy promenades and picnics at local parks that are scattered throughout the city, each with their own design, buildings, and sculptures.

Architecture in Altea isn't limited to "Enlightened Architecture". In the city's Centro District, several skyscrapers and office building spread into the sky. This district holds several of Egelion's main global institutions and thus require space to continue their successful operations. In Centro, you will find wide boulevards, buses, businesspeople filling the sidewalks, and modern architecture. These skyscrapers make architecture in the city diverse. On one side, you have the more traditional classical architecture of the nation's past and on the other, more modern cosmopolitan views that shows the country's successful transition. 

What fills Altea's neighborhoods with wealth and prestige is the amount of royal residencies attached to nobility. This is the purpose of the Sorsuela District--the heart of the city. The Egelian Royal Family has several residencies in the city, but two of the most important remain Villamor Palace and Sorseula Palace. Villamor Palace is the official residency of the king. While the King and the family do not live here, this is where official state events take place. It is heavily visited by tourists and remains the largest palace in Egelion. Sorsuela Palace is the actual residency of the royal family. The palace was built on an island in the middle of Lake Sorsuela which is to the west of the Royal District. The palace is heavily guarded at all times and is one of the most important buildings in the city. It remains a visual representation of the city and of its district: prestige, nobility, and wealth.

Altea, remains one of the most important cities in the world. Rising from utter collapse since the days of the PLN thanks to strong leadership, the city is now a major hub for international affairs, tourism, and finance. The city is not perfect. It still has its issues related to crime, but it is a great example of what constant, stable leadership can do to a city. This metro cares not for immediate growth and materials. The city was handcrafted by its ideals and by its belief that quality and beauty is superior to anything else. As the century begins anew, Altea stands as a beacon of opportunity, of an enlightened ideals, and a fusion of classicism and modernity. While in fact most of Egelion's cities have benefited from this ideal for a century, Altea remains the Jewel of the East.

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