Located on the windy southern shores of Lake Michigan in the northeast of the state of Illinois, Chicago is one of the world's great metropolises. It is affectionately and rightly known as the 'Windy City' and offers a magnificent wealth of attractions, history, museums and galleries.

Europeans first came to the Chicago area in the 1600s and found it inhabited by Indian tribes, yet it wasn't until the late 1700s that things took off and the city would begin to prosper. The Great Fire of Chicago helped shape the city into what it is today with the massive reconstruction of the city centre and many spectacular buildings.