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Geneva




Switzerland, officially known as the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked Alpine country in Central Europe. The country, which borders Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east, was historically a confederation, and has been a federation since 1848. It is a federation of relatively autonomous cantons, some of which have a history of confederacy that goes back more than 700 years, arguably putting them among the world's oldest surviving republics.  With an area of 41,285 square kilometers, Switzerland is a relatively small country. It comprises three basic topographical areas namely the Swiss Alps, the Swiss plateau, and the Jura Mountains. Switzerland has four official languages including German, French, Italian and Romansh.
 
Geneva is a city in Switzerland known for its historic myths and traditions, scenic beauty, cooperative people and luxurious hotels and cottages. It is the second most populous region and is the capital of the canton of Geneva. It is widely regarded as a global city, mainly due to the presence of numerous international organizations, including the European headquarters of the United Nations. A 2006 survey found Geneva to have the second highest quality of living in the world.
 
Geneva was the name of a settlement of the Celtic people of the Allobroges. The name of Genava in Latin appeared for the first time in the writings of Julius Caesar in De Bello Gallico, his comments on the Gallic Wars. Its name may be identical in origin to the name of the Ligurian city of Genua, meaning knee and referring to its geographical position.
 
The city's most visited monument is the Saint-Pierre Cathedral, located at Cour Saint-Pierre, a noteworthy space of unique spiritual and cultural importance. The Cathedral and towers, which both embody the high point of the Reformed tradition and explores the origins of Christianity in its archaeological site, is now complemented by the International Museum of the Reformation, on the ground floor of the Maison Mallet.
 
Geneva's economy is mainly services oriented. The city has an important and old finance sector, which is specialized in private banking and financing of international trade. It is also an important centre of commodity trade. Geneva, justifiably so, enjoys a very positive reputation with worldwide travelers, and is one of the most visited place. It is also the place of best geographical environment and can trace its origin back to prehistoric times.

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