2011 Starbucks Brussels Belgium Global City and similar items

2011 Starbucks Brussels Belgium Global City Icon Collector Coffee Mug Cup Grande 16 ounce This mug is from the highly collectible retired 2011 Starbucks "City Icon Mug" series. The mug was never used, and was only used for display. This is an excellent addition to your Starbucks collection from the lovely land of Belgium. The front graphic of the mug is the Grand Place and the back side features the spire of the town hall. The interior of the mug is green and it holds 16 fl oz of your favorite Grande sized beverage. The mug is microwave and dishwasher safe. Measures 4 inches high x 3 3/8 inch diameter. Brussels is a major Europe-wide center for cultural, scientific and economic development. It is the seat of the king as well as NATO, the Euratom and the European Union institutions. The Grand Place or Grote Markt, in Dutch, is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe with architecture from 3 different eras Baroque, Gothic, and Louis XIV giving the square an eclectic quality. This earned the Grand Place a listing as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1998. Historically, the Bruxelles Grand Place was essentially a market place where traders and citizens sold and bought food, as such, all the streets surrounding the square are named after foods. Most of the buildings were rebuilt or restored after the bombardment of Brussels by France in 1695. Overlooking the city is the glowing Gothic tower of the Town Hall (Hotel de Ville) which one may mistake for a church or a castle. The iconic tower can be seen from most corners of the city.