Oslo is the demographic, economic and political centre of Norway. As a tourist destination Oslo is overshadowed by the natural landscape of more rural parts of the country, and the other large cities like Bergen and Trondheim which tend to be more "typical" Norwegian. Nevertheless, Oslo has plenty of sights, good nightlife and is worth seeing.After the devastating 1624 fire, old Oslo (around the mouth of river Alna) was largely abandoned and the ruins converted to farmland. Today, a few church ruins are still visible under the Ekeberg hill (across the water from the New Opera, between road E18 and the railway). Beyond these ruins there are virtually nothing remaining of mideval Oslo. Ironically, the new city Christiania was established outside the borders of Oslo, and 'Oslo' remained the name of the small, surviving settlement outside the new city borders. During Christiania's rapid expansion in the 19th century, as the capital of a new state, the site of original Oslo (old Oslo, or 'Gamlebyen') was included in the city. Due to the rapid inclusion of surrounding agricultural areas in the 19th century, an large number of remains from the city's farming history is still clearly visible in place names and farm houses. Nice parks like St. Hanshaugen is the remain of original pastures and sources of firewood for the citys inhabitants. http://wikitravel.org/en/Oslo