Caprica City

Caprica City, before the Cylon attack.

Caprica City, the capital city of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol, is an ocean-front city of tall towers and glittering spires, bisected by a river, which leads down to the sea from the lakes in the hills behind the city. Prior to the Cylon attack, Caprica City was home to some 7 million people. The largest city on the colony of Caprica, Caprica City is home to the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Colonial Government. The Colonial Defense Mainframe resided in Caprica City (Six Degrees of Separation. This city held its own police force, known only as the Caprica City Police (Maelstrom).

A large airport/spaceport linked the city with other cities and the rest of the Twelve Colonies, while the hills behind the city provided secluded living space for the well-off among the population, such as Doctor Gaius Baltar. It was surrounded by a number of smaller hamlets, such as Oasis (Miniseries).

The city itself was divided into a number of smaller districts and neighborhoods that are given placeholder names for easier reference.

A view of Caprica City from the shore.

The Shoreline

The shoreline is the waterfront area facing an ocean by the city. It is the first view of Caprica City, seen in the Miniseries and the show's opening credits. This district is quite cosmopolitan, containing a number of metallic office towers and hi-rises. These taller buildings are juxtaposed with the smaller apartment and work structures that line the beach and tree-lined walk.

Caprica City before the fall.

Caprica City.

The Riverwalk

Riverwalk: This section is located on the river that bisects the Colonial capital. This neighborhood's main attraction was the Riverwalk Market, an open-air bazaar full of vendor stands hawking fresh fruit, construction materials and other goods. Many varied types of citizens congregated in this zone, from businessmen to shoppers and construction workers. It is in a smaller area of Riverwalk, the Government Center Plaza that Baltar first strolls with Six after meeting her (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II). The market was also the site where Six murders Chantara's baby in a form of mercy-killing. Surrounding the market stalls was a snaking complex of glass and steel supported by columns. Various landscaped gardens and reflecting pools occupied the unused land between the market and complex. Behind the market complex, a few of Caprica City's trademark silver office towers could be seen (Miniseries).

City center

This is the area reached by Baltar and Six after they passed the Riverwalk. The city center contained the highest density of skyscrapers, occupation parks and hi-tech industries. Since all city traffic was airborne, the city center had no paved roads. Instead, the spaces between the buildings were occupied by a system of walkways, steps, plazas, gardens and water features. This provided the perfect municipal commons area where citizens could jog, take infants out for walks, play with friends, buy a balloon or simply take a pleasant afternoon stroll. In the Miniseries, Baltar and Six walk through one of the central city's landscaped gardens. While Baltar talks about himself, Six is stealing curious glances at various citizens as they pass by.

Caprican Plaza.

Government center plaza

This complex contained the Colonial legislative, executive and judicial branches of government, as well as the CNP mainframe. It was located in the Riverwalk section of Caprica City, presumably in the complex over the district's marketplace. Through its gardens and walkways, much human traffic could be seen. President Adar's office was here (Epiphanies). During the Cylon attack, a reporter for Channel 7 News is reporting from there on the population's reaction to the nuclear bombardment before he and a background cafe table are blown away by the shockwave of a bomb that detonates over Caprica City (Miniseries).

Caprica City is completely destroyed by a Cylon nuclear detonation (in the 50 megaton range) in the Cylon attack.

Notes

• The Riverwalk complex and garden is actually the campus of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
• Caprica City contained several pyramid-shaped buildings. This is a reference to the Caprica of the Original Series, which was influenced by Egyptian mythology and symbolism.