Zürich, Switzerland's largest city and the capital of the canton of Zürich, is located in an Alpine environment at the northwestern extremity of Lake Zürich, stretching out between two forested chains of hills about 40 miles  from the northern foothills of the Alps. It is the country's economic, financial, and cultural hub, as well as one of Switzerland's most cosmopolitan and dynamic towns. The city has a broad ethnic makeup, with immigrants accounting for more than a third of the population. In the Early Middle Ages, Zurich was already a thriving commercial town. The city's economy was given such a boost by the Reformation in 1519 that it quickly became Switzerland's financial center Italy, the Balkans, Portugal, and Germany have the largest immigration communities. Zürich boasts a thriving cultural scene, including theatres and opera houses that are known for their inventiveness and experimentation.Schiffbau, the Zürich Opera House, is well-known around the world. The Town Hall in Zürich has its own orchestra, as well as a hall where the Zürich Chamber Orchestra performs. In order to become a top tourist destination, the city has built new hotels, restored museums and theatres, and lit landmarks. At the same time, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology's "Science City," an international think-tank campus, has helped to elevate Zürich's status as an essential center for creative research and teaching.

Zurich is cutting-edge: it was the birthplace of Dada, as well as the Freitag bag and the world-famous Helvetica typeface. Zurich combines the advantages of a green and modern city at the foot of the Alps with good infrastructure and a strong network of business, education, and ambitious start-ups to create an economic hub and boutique metro pole by the water delivering a high quality of life.Lake Zurich is one of Switzerland's largest and most beautiful lakes, with panoramic vistas of the steel grey mountains in the distance, their peaks covered with snow. The lake, which stretches to the south east of Zurich, is the result of the river Lint, which originates in the Glarus Alps glaciers. Grossmunster, the Zurich Cathedral, is located on the opposite side of Fraumunster Church. The twin towers, which appear to be a perfect blend of neo-gothic, post-gothic, and Romanesque styles, are one of the most striking aspects of this location