Nataliya

Natalia 32°26′N 1°0′E
Metropolis
Skyline of the city center at Kalos
Nickname(s):  City of Sight and Sound
Country	Lugida
Region	Tengitra
Area
• Metro	1,534 km2 (592 sq mi)
Population  (2016)
• Metropolis	11,642,706
• Density	7,590/km2 (19,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Natalian, Nataliamin
Time zone	Sahar Coordinated Time (SCT+0)

Natalia (Lithian: [natalʲa]), officially the Natalia Metropolis, is the capital city of Lugida. Additionally as the country's capital prefecture, the core urban area is home to 11.6 million people (2016), the largest in Lugida and 3rd largest in Soltenna. It is located on the eastern foothills of Mount Lenthir, , facing towards Natalia Bay and the Sharkunen Gulf. Natalia comprises the southern edge of the Tengitra region and is a part of the Midan metropolitan area whose urban agglomeration of 24 million people is one of the largest in Sahar.

Initially founded as a small Altha dynasty-era settlement, Natalia was expanded into a city under Letsatian rule in Lugida when extensive deposits of silver was found in the foothills west of the city. Avite Empire ruler Gathid, being of Natalian origin, proposed the city as the empire's new capital in 348 CE. The proposal, though implemented through development of infrastructure in Natalia, fell out of favor of Avite clerics. Natalia's surrounding geography kept the city untouched by war during the Warring States period in the 5th century. By the 10th century the city had become a powerful naval city-state who maintain trade routes in and out of the Amiyant Sea and along the Gulf.

Combination of several factors such as the then recent Tori invasions of Lugida led to the founding of the Forian Confederation in the 10th century, initially consisting of four city-states across the southern Damire Sea. When the confederation merges to form the Forian Kingdom the royal families of constituent city-states chose Natalia as their capital. During this time economic activity grew up to its historic highest in the 17th century, before declining after the Kingdom's dissolution on 1731. Natalia is designated capital city of Lugida upon the formation of the Republic in 1868. Natalia suffered from extensive damages during the Great Ekuosian War due to Allied-led bombings and offensives. As the war ended the capital city later grew significantly throughout the Lugid post-war economic miracle.

Today, Natalia is a global city with the largest metropolitan economy in Soltenna; its estimated metropolitan GDP reaches upwards of $800 billion. The city has one of the highest standards of living in the world, as well as one of the most expensive city for expatriates, stemming from the city's high population density and real estate value. Natalia boasts a vibrant culture extending from Forian-era buildings at the Mite district to popular culture such as miko and L-pop – which gave the city's nickname, "City of Sight and Sound". Natalia hosts many large, global Lugid-based companies including consumer electronics and video game company Mitsetale, entertainment agency Nasha Entertainment, miko publisher Scarlet Dance, mass media company Deliat Media, and conglomerates Starling and TV Corporation, in addition to supranational institutions such as the Central Bank of Fordas.

Etymology

The name Natalia comes from the Lithian words natal "Sun" with the addition of suffix -ia to mean "(city) of the Sun". According to common local belief, the name is interpreted as to mean the rising sun in reference to the city's location on the Lugid east coast.

Architecture

Traditional architecture of Natalia is heavily influenced by Ekuosian architecture, propagated through sermets and later during the Forian period. At the time, buildings outside the walls of the Royal District (now Mite, Natalia) are generally wood-based, occasionally using concrete or brick as foundation. Conversely, the district has most – if not all – buildings brick-faced. Industrialization in the 19th century and the later bombings of Natalia led to a decline of wood-based buildings in Natalia particularly over concerns regarding its vulnerability to catch fire.

See also

• Midan
• List of cities in Lugida