  We present a detailed photoionization model of G29.96-0.02 (hereafter
G29.96), one of the brightest Galactic Ultra Compact HII (UCHII) regions in the
Galaxy. This source has been observed extensively at radio and infrared
wavelengths. The most recent data include a complete ISO (SWS and LWS)
spectrum, which displays a remarkable richness in atomic fine-structure lines.
The number of observables is twice as much as the number available in previous
studies. In addition, most atomic species are now observed in two ionization
stages. The radio and infrared data on G29.96 are best reproduced using a
nebular model with two density components: a diffuse (n_e~680cm-3) extended (~1
pc) component surrounding a compact (~0.1 pc) dense (n_e~57000cm-3) core. The
properties of the ionizing star were derived using state-of-the-art stellar
atmosphere models. CoStar models yield an effective temperature of
\~30^{+2}_{-1} kK whereas more recent non-LTE line blanketed atmospheres with
stellar winds indicate somewhat higher values, Teff~32--38 kK. This range in
Teff is compatible with all observational constraints, including near-infrared
photometry and bolometric luminosity. The range 33-36 kK is also compatible
with the spectral type O5-O8 determined by Watson and Hanson (97) when recent
downward revisions of the effective temperature scale of O stars are taken into
account. The age of the ionizing star of G29.96 is found to be a few 10^6 yr,
much older than the expected lifetime of UCHII regions. Accurate gas phase
abundances are derived with the most robust results being Ne/S=7.5 and N/O=0.43
(1.3 and 3.5 times the solar values, respectively).
