Looking at the modern city today, it is difficult to imagine that in the early 19th century it was a small village, inhabited by only 25 people. The most significant transformations of the city occurred in the second half of the 19th century. A group of businessmen from England bought out local farms and invested huge funds in their development. Already in 1833, a port was built in the city, and soon, several iron ore mines were founded in the vicinity of Middlesbrough.
Today, the modern city is famous not only for its first-class hotels and entertainment centers, but also for its rich sports life. In 1995, the ultramodern Riverside Stadium was built here, with a capacity of more than 35,000 people. This is the largest stadium in the country, which was built since the end of the Second World War. Now it hosts the most significant sports and cultural events. A visit to it will be interesting even for those who do not consider themselves keen sports fan.
The prospects for cultural recreation in Middlesbrough are also excellent. Guests of the city will be interested to visit the Institute of Contemporary Art. Its opening was also held recently, in 2007. Nowadays in the exhibition halls of the Institute, one of the largest collections of paintings in the UK is kept. The pride of the cultural center is an extensive collection of works by Pablo Picasso.
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