Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a German town in northern Bavaria

 "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?" -- Percy Bysshe Shelley, in his “Ode to the West Wind”

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(in the Franconia region of Germany's federal state of Bavaria) Rothenburg ob der Tauber is part of the popular Romantic Road which runs between Würzburg and the Bavarian Alps through southern Germany. Today Rothenburg is one of only three towns in Germany that still have completely intact city walls -- the other two being Nördlingen and Dinkelsbühl. First mentioned as Rotinbure in the 9th century, it developed around a Hohenstaufen fortress and was a free imperial city from 1274 until 1803. Rothenburg attained its zenith under Bürgermeister (Mayor) Heinrich Toppler (1373–1408) and declined after the Thirty Years’ War, during which it was besieged and captured (1631) by Catholic League forces under Johann Tserclaes, Graf (Count) von Tilly. At that time the city was supposedly spared when a citizen accepted a dare from the enemy to drink more than three quarts of wine in one gulp; the tankard is featured in the collection of the Imperial City Museum. The event is commemorated every Whitsuntide by the performance of a play, Der Meistertrunk (“The Master Gulp”). Landmarks include the Gothic and Renaissance Town Hall and the Church of St Jacob.

The city of Bayonne, in the Basque Country region of southwest France

 “Seek and see beauty in the watery world.” -- Fennel Hudson

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(in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France) As the capital of the French Basque Country, Bayonne is found at the confluence of the Nive with the Adour River, five miles (8 km) from its mouth. The city well represents the region’s cross-cultural charms. Spread along the banks of the Rivers Adour and Nive, the waterside city of Bayonne is one of the prettiest in this part of France. It's been a strategic stronghold since medieval times, and the old ramparts are still visible around the outskirts of the Old Town, but it's Bayonne's pretty half-timbered buildings, riverside restaurants and shady cobbled streets that make it worthy of exploration. A jumble of narrow townhouses adorned with colorful shutters line the riversides, while the Old Town is dotted with terrace cafés, street markets, and chocolatiers. With its Gothic-style cathedral and medieval streets, Bayonne has a distinctive Gascon air, but you instantly notice an extra dimension: the dual language signs in French and Euskara, ancient language of the Basque provinces; the red and white flags and bunting that personify all things Basque; and the prominence of the Basque country’s favorite sport, pelota.

The island of Procida, the coast of Naples in southern Italy.

 "I feel we are all islands, in a common sea." -- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

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(on one of the Flegrean Islands off the coast of Naples in southern Italy) The Island of Procida, near the northwest entrance to the Bay of Naples, lies between Ischia Island and Cape Miseno on the mainland. Of volcanic origin, it is made up, with the adjacent Vivara Island, of four extinct craters. Parts of the margins of all four have been destroyed by the sea to form crescent-shaped bays on the east side of the island. Admired for its simplicity, panoramic views, and natural island beauty, Procida has served as the backdrop for novelists and screenwriters alike. The most famous feature-length movies shot on Procida to date are The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999), starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, and Il Postino: The Postman.
Mycenaeans, Greeks, Romans – who made Procida a patrician resort – Normans and French laid claim to this island over the centuries. Today, Procida remains an uncomplicated, simple, laid-back dot in the sea when compared to its sister islands of Ischia and Capri. Flourishing gardens and fragrant lemon and orange groves beckon travelers to its quaint port. The quintessential Mediterranean paradise is an absolute vision of colorful harborside homes and picturesque piazzas.

The City of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden

 “[Sweden] is a story of utopian dreams and belief in the future, but also one that involves a critique of modernity.” -- Sverker Sörlin

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(in the most populous urban area of Scandinavia) The Kingdom of Sweden, a Nordic country in northern Europe, borders Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund Strait. The capital of Sweden is Stockholm, which is found at the junction of Lake Mälar (Mälaren) and Salt Bay (Saltsjön), an arm of the Baltic Sea, opposite the Gulf of Finland. The city is spread across many islands as well as the mainland of Uppland and Södermanland. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world, Stockholmers call their city "beauty on water." Gamla Stan, the city's oldest district, features a royal palace, gabled buildings and cobblestone streets, making it one of Europe’s most impeccably preserved historic centers. Across the city, world-class museums and galleries inform and provoke, with everything from glittering Viking treasures and an ill-fated warship, to ABBA props, and contemporary art. It's quite a stimulating, inspiring mix, where the past, present. and future constantly merge, converse, and engage.

Blair Castle near the village of Blair Atholl in Perthshire in Scotland

 "Now is the age of anxiety." -- W. H. Auden

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(in the central Scottish Highlands) Blair Atholl, on the River Garry, is the site of the 13th-century Blair Castle, the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and home to Europe's last remaining private army, the Atholl Highlanders. The castle has endured quite a diverse history, witnessing both turbulent and peaceful times, enlarged and adapted over the course of time to suit the needs of the family and style of the day. Home to politicians, soldiers, agriculturalists, and entrepreneurs, the family's history is brought to life against a backdrop of fine 18th century interiors and Scottish baronial architecture, in 30 rooms. Nestled in the landscape of Highland Perthshire it has been home to 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl. Unique among Scottish castles, the story related here will take one from a visit by Mary Queen of Scots to the Civil War and from the Jacobite cause to the disaster of Culloden following Bonnie Prince Charlie's own stay in the castle. You'll learn how the lucky inheritance of a smuggler-infested island helped turn the castle into a comfortable home and how a visit from Queen Victoria led to the creation of Europe's only surviving private regiment, the Atholl Highlanders.

The city of Zurich, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland

 “You go to a place for a visit and deep in your heart you think that this place can be your own home and Zurich is such a place!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

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(in Switzerland) Zürich, this country's largest city, is found in an Alpine setting at the northwestern end of Lake Zürich. A financial, cultural, and industrial center, the city lies between two forested chains of hills, about 40 miles (60 km) from the northern foothills of the Alps. Two rivers, the Limmat and Sihl, run through it. Zürich’s western and northeastern limits are formed by the Albis mountains and by Zürichberg, a wooded hilly area. Culturally vibrant, efficiently run and attractively set at the meeting of river and lake, Zürich is widely recognized as one of the world's most livable cities. Switzerland's wealthiest metropolis has also emerged in the 21st century as one of Central Europe's popular destinations, with a post-industrial edge that is epitomized by its exuberant summer Street Parade. Much of the ancient center, with its winding lanes and tall church steeples, has been kept intact. Yet Zürich has also fully embraced contemporary trends, with the conversion of old factories into cultural centers and creative new living spaces. Nowhere is that clearer than in Züri-West, the hub of the city’s nightlife.

The city of Regensburg, a Bavarian city on the Danube River in southeast Germany

 Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg, canonized in 1052, is the patron saint of paralyzed people, stroke victims, and carpenters.

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(in Bavaria, Germany) The city of Regensburg, the political, economic and cultural center of the Upper Palatinate, is found at the confluence of the Danube, Naab and Regen rivers. Founded by the Romans in the year 179 as Casta Regina (meaning Fortress by the River Regen), Regensburg is one of Germany's oldest cities. The 12th-century Stone Bridge was used by Crusaders, on their way the Holy Land. The cathedral of St. Peter is one of the most important Gothic churches in Bavaria, with 14th-century stained-glass windows and two Romanesque chapels in the adjoining cloisters. Other churches include the Romanesque St. Emmeram’s, parts of which date to the 8th century; the Old Chapel, dating from about 1000; the 12th-century Romanesque Scottish Church of St. Jakob, founded by Irish monks; the 13th-century Dominican Church; and, the Minorite Church, incorporated in the municipal museum. The buildings of the 7th-century St. Emmeram’s Abbey have been the palace of the princes of Thurn and Taxis since 1812, and there are remains of the 13th-century Herzogshof, the residence of the Bavarian dukes. The City Hall is where the Imperial Diet was held from 1663 to 1806.

The city of Bastia is found on the northeastern coast of Corsica

 "Courage isn't having the strength to go on -- it is going on when you don't have strength." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

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(on the French island of Corsica) The city of Bastia is found on the northeastern coast of Corsica, 22 miles (35 km) south of the island’s northernmost point, the tip of Cape Corse. It is close to the Italian mainland, and across the Tyrrhenian Sea can be seen the island of Elba, flanked by Monte Cristo and Capraia. Once a small fishing village called Marina di Cardo, in 1383 it changed its name after a Genoese keep, or bastiglia, was built here. Bastia was the capital of Corsica until 1791 and still is military headquarters of the island. The Old Town (Terra Vecchia) is built in and around the central part of the harbor. The upper town (Terra Nuova) lies to the south, the modern town to the north and west. The Old Town features a network of alleys connected by dark, vaulted passages. The classical facades of the Church of San Giovanni Battista, law court, theater, and the City Hall are floridly decorated. As France’s second busiest passenger port, after Calais, the city of Bastia remains lively all-year-round. The hilltop fortress, which is much older than the city itself, served from the 15th century onwards as the stronghold of Bastia’s Genoese overlords.

The city of Verona, in northern Italy, is found at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, west of Venice

 “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” -- William Shakespeare (from Romeo and Juliet, spoken by Juliet)

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(on the Adige River in the Veneto region of Italy) The city of Verona, in northern Italy, is found at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, 65 miles (104 km) west of Venice, So splendid was medieval Verona that its reputation alone inspired Shakespeare to set two plays here (Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona). Though its connection to the actual Capulets is tenuous at best, "Juliet's House" draws half a million tourists every ("normal") year, many of them keen on reenacting the balcony scene. Beyond the Renaissance romance, however, Verona boasts a bustling center -- its heart dominated by a mammoth, remarkably well-preserved 1st-century amphitheater, the venue for the city's annual summer opera festival. Add to that numerous churches, architecturally fascinating bridges over the Adige, regional wine and food from the Veneto hinterland and some impressive art, and Verona makes for one of northern Italy's most attractive cities. Juliet's house is a spectacle; its walls are lined with love notes, many attached with chewing gum. Above, is the famous balcony, tourists taking their turn to have pictures taken against the 'romantic background.

The Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in south-central Slovenia.

 "Welcome out of the cave, my friend. It's a bit colder out here, but the stars are just beautiful." -- Plato

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(in western Slovenia) The undulating, heavily forested Notranjska (Inner Carniola) region of Slovenia -- which encompasses the towns a Postojna and Predjama (and a 24-kilometer [15-mile] -long cave system) -- is full of woodlands, castles, caves, and sinkholes created by "disappearing" rivers and lakes. Its isolated setting has spawned some of Slovenia’s most cherished myths and legends.. The region has recently been promoted as the "Green Karst"’ -- one that pursues sustainable principles and encourages tourist facility owners and managers to behave "more sustainably." Featured here is Predjama Castle, under a towering cliff. Magnificent, defiant, mysterious, and impregnable, it has dominated the surrounding area, seemingly plugged into the 123-meter high cliff, for more than 800 years. Listed among the Guinness World Records as the largest cave castle in the world, it is one of Europe's most dramatic castles. It teaches a clear lesson: if you need an impregnable fortification, build it in the gaping mouth of a cavern halfway up a cliff. Its four levels were constructed piecemeal over the years from 1202, but most of what one sees today dates to the 16th century.

The city of Reykjavik, capital of Iceland

 "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening...."

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(in Iceland) A capital city encircled by waterfalls, whales and glaciers, Reykjavik bears the distinction of being the world’s northernmost capital, and for many Icelandic visitors it also serves as a gateway to wilderness adventures beyond. Yet, the city merits its own exploration. Reykjavik’s creative culture includes an internationally recognized music scene, great food and buzzing nightlife. (Many visitors like to recharge after a night out in one of the many geothermal springs or luxurious indoor spas.) One can get a full primer on Icelandic history in central Reykjavík -- from its Settlement Exhibition built around the unearthed Viking longhouse of the area's earliest inhabitants to the enormous National Museum, keeper of the country's most precious artefacts. In the Old Harbor you can be enthralled at the intriguing Saga Museum, or learn a bit about the area's maritime history. As you make your way around this city, you'll find people, who mix aesthetic-minded ingenuity with an almost quaint, know-your-neighbors sense of community. Outdoor winter activities on offer include whale watching, bathing in geothermal pools, and strolling by colorful houses and Viking sculptures, such as the interesting one of Leif Erikson.

The Szechenyi Medicinal Bath in Hungary's capital Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe

 During the Hungarian Revolution of 1848-1849, Count István Szécheny was appointed Minister of Public Works and Transport. He supported the regulation of the Danube to improve navigation and to open it to commercial shipping and trade from Buda to the Black Sea. He was thinking about the merge of Buda and Pest to become the political, economic and cultural center of Hungary. He supported the construction of the first permanent bridge between the two cities: the Chain Bridge.

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(in Hungary) Featured here is the Széchenyi Bath in Hungary's capital, Budapest. The largest medicinal bath in Europe, its water is supplied by two thermal springs: one at a temperature of 74 °C (165 °F), and the other at 77 °C). When it opened in 1913, it was named Széchenyi spa, after one of the greatest statesmen in his nation's history, who is still considered by many as "the Greatest Hungarian." Located in the City Park, the Bath was built in Neo-Baroque style. It covered an area measuring 6,220 square meters (67,000 square feet). The complex was expanded in 1927 to its current size, with three outdoor and 15 indoor pools. The springs now supply 6,000,000 liters (1,600,000 US gallons) of hot water daily. (Between 1999 and 2009 the Széchenyi Thermal Bath was completely renovated.)

Visby is a town on the Swedish island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea.

 "There is scarcely a more remarkable chapter in history than that which deals with the trading alliance or association known as the Hanseatic League. The League has long since passed away, having served its time and fulfilled its purpose. Yet, if the League has disappeared, the beneficial results of its action survive to Europe. To us moderns it seems but natural that there should be security of intercourse between civilized nations, that highways should be free from robbers, and the ocean from pirates." -- Helen Zimmern

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(in Scandinavia) The city of Visby is the capital of Gotland, an island off the east coast of Sweden. To get a sense of its medieval history, visitors like to follow the cobblestone streets that wind throughout the city, take a tour of its Old Town, and visit the 13th-century church. Most are also drawn to the 13th-century wall that stretches around the center of the city, and once served as Visby’s main defense from intruders. The seat of Gotland County on the island of Gotland, the largest in the Baltic Sea, Visby is also the episcopal see for the Diocese of Visby. One of the Hanseatic cities of yore, Visby is considered one of the best-preserved medieval cities of Scandinavia, -- and it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1955.

Bled, a Slovenian resort town in the foothills of the Julian Alps, is set along the glacial Lake Bled.

 "Do not despair of life. You have no doubt force enough to overcome your obstacles. Think of the fox prowling through wood and field in a winter night for something to satisfy his hunger. Notwithstanding cold and the hounds and traps, his race survives." -- Henry David Thoreau

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(back to Bled, where the magic of nature never fails to impress its visitors) Surrounded by the snowcapped Julian Alps, Slovenia's Lake Bled is a fairytale landscape that looks particularly beautiful in winter, as the frost on the trees sparkles in the light. Set amidst the snowcapped Julian Alps less than an hour from Ljubljana, the mirror emerald lake is small enough to walk around on foot. The beautiful Church of the Assumption, on an islet, dates from 1698. According to local tradition, one who can ring the bell loudly enough will be granted a wish and a husband who can carry his new bride the 99 steps up from the dock into the church will be ensured a happy marriage. With the waters off limits to motorized craft, the island is reached via pletna boat (a huge gondola type vessel), or by rowboat. Overlooking the lake is Bled Castle. The oldest part of the medieval castle is the Romanesque tower -- though other buildings were built in the Renaissance style during the the 17th century.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening , by Robert Frost

 “It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it.” -- John Burroughs

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"Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

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Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening , by Robert Frost

The city of Edinburgh, capital of Scotland

 “This was a townscape raised in the teeth of cold winds from the east; a city of winding cobbled streets and haughty pillars; a city of dark nights and candlelight, and intellect. This is a city of shifting light, of changing skies, of sudden vistas. A city so beautiful it breaks the heart again and again.” ― Alexander McCall Smith

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(in Scotland's capital city) The center of Edinburgh, in the southeast of Scotland, is located near the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, an arm of the North Sea that juts westward into the Scottish Lowlands. The city has served as a a military stronghold, the capital of an independent country, and a center of intellectual activity. Physically, It is also a city of somber theatricality, with much of this quality deriving from its setting among crags and hills and from its tall buildings and spires of dark stone. One of Europe’s most beautiful cities, Edinburgh is intimately entwined with its landscape, with buildings and monuments overshadowed by cliffs. From the Old Town’s jumble of medieval tenements piled high along the Royal Mile, its turreted skyline strung between the Castle Rock and the russet palisade of Salisbury Crags, to the New Town’s neat grid of neoclassical respectability, the city offers a constantly changing perspective.

The city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, United Kingdom

 "Castell Coch's external features and the High Victorian interiors led the historian David McLees to describe it as "one of the greatest Victorian triumphs of architectural composition."

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(in Wales) The city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, is found on the Bristol Channel at the mouth of the Taff River. The Welsh capital may have originated as a Roman fort, but it has since become a bustling city. With many new and exciting things to see, the National History Museum is the most visited attraction in Wales. Featured here is Coch Castle, perched atop a thickly wooded crag on the northern fringes of Cardiff. It was the summer retreat of the third marquess of Bute and, like Cardiff Castle, was designed by architect William Burges in Gothic-revival style. Raised on the ruins of Gilbert de Clare's 13th-century Castell Coch (Red Castle), the Butes' onetime holiday home is another popular tourist destination in Wales. John Crichton-Stuart, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, inherited the castle in 1848. One of Britain's wealthiest men, with interests in architecture and antiquarian studies, he employed the architect William Burges to reconstruct the castle, "as a country residence for occasional occupation in the summer," using the medieval remains as a basis for the design.