Greater London is often referred to as "the City" or "the Square Mile" and it forms the main financial district. Archaically, the urbanised area of London was known as the Metropolis. In common usage, the terms "London" and "Greater London" are usually used interchangeably. Greater London is officially divided for some purposes, with varying definitions, into Inner London and Outer London. For some strategic planning purposes it is divided into five sub-regions. Greater London is under the strategic local governance of the Greater London Authority (GLA). It consists of an elected assembly, the London Assembly, and an executive head, the Mayor of
Capriccio of the City of London Fire of London column built in 1677 by architect Sir Christopher Wren who was commissioned to reconstruct much of the city after the fire. Towards the back of the scene is Wren's St Paul's Cathedral which was built between 1676 and 1710. Capriccio of the City of London Capriccio of the City of London is an early 18th century oil painting made by the Dutch Griffier family, who became well known in England. Jan Griffier and his children, Jan and Robert, created the landscape. This canvas shows London almost a century after the devastating Great Fire of London of September