Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is the seat of the District of Lisbon and capital of Lisboa Region. Lisbon has a population of approximately 564,700 people. Lisbon is one of the warmest of the European capitals. Spring and summer months are usually sunny, while autumn and winter are typically rainy and windy. The historic center of Lisbon is built on seven hills, making some of the streets too steep for motor vehicles; the city is served by three trams and one elevator. The west side of the city is mainly occupied by the Monsanto Natural Park, one of the largest urban parks in Europe with an area close to 10 sq km (almost 4 sq miles). There are 53 parishes in Lisbon. The heart of the city (Baixa) is being considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Status Site. The Baixa is organized on a grid system and a network of squares built after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which leveled a big part of the Medieval town. The Castle of Sao Jorge and the Santa Maria Maior Cathedral are located on one of the seven hills of Lisbon. The oldest district of the city is Alfama, which has remained relatively unscathed through the various earthquakes. Other monuments include: Commerce Square, Rossio Square, Restauradores Square, and other sites. In addition, there is Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Traditional Portuguese, Modern, and Post-Modern architecture throughout the town. There are several museums, art galleries, the largest aquarium in Europe, an opera house, and a monument to Christ the King, which stands on the left side of the river. With open arms, the statue overlooks the whole city and was built after World War II as thanks for Portugal's being spared the horrors and destruction of the war. There are five holidays celebrated every June, and Parque Eduardo VII is the largest park located in the center of the city. The park features a large variety of plants in a large winter garden. In 1986, a fire near the historical center greatly disrupted normal life in the area for about 10 years. In 1994, Lisbon was the European Capital of Culture. Expo '98 was timed to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's sea voyage to India. Lisbon hosted the 27th Taize New Year European Meeting from December 2004 to January 2005. Every March, the city hosts the Lisbon Half Marathon, one of the most attended events of its kind in the world. In 2006, Lisbon was the starting city of the Dakar Rally.