In the captal city of Brussels, Belgium

 “I will be the gladdest thing under the sun! I will touch a hundred flowers and not pick one.” ― Edna St. Vincent Millay

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(in the capital of Belgium) The city of Brussels, part of the Brussels-Capital Region, is one of the three federal regions into which Belgium is divided. Lying on the Senne River, a tributary of the Schelde, it began as a trading settlement and ultimately became a holding of the dukes of Brabant. In the first half of the 16th century, it became the capital of the Low Countries, then under Habsburg control. In the late 16th century, the Low Countries were divided and the southern provinces, where Brussels was located, were ruled successively by Spain, Austria, and France. After the Low Countries were reunited as the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, Brussels shared the status of capital with The Hague. A center of rebellion, Brussels became the capital of independent Belgium in 1830. An important financial and commercial city, it is the headquarters of NATO and the seat of the European Union.

+ In Brussels, art deco facades face off against 1960s concrete developments, and regal 19th-century mansions contrast with the shimmering glass of the EU’s "Gotham City." From Brussels’ medieval core, its greatest architectural expression came at the turn of the 19th century with Art Nouveau; its master builder was Victor Horta, a Belgian architect and designer, and one of the founders of the Art Nouveau movement. (While restraint characterizes his exteriors, the interiors are sensual symphonies of form and color.)

+ The Medieval Grand-Place in Brussels (featured here), is indeed grand, with many 17th-century buildings and daily flower markets. Whether you're just passing through Brussels or here for a week, you can't miss the Grand-Place -- quite a popular tourist destination in the city. This square, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits in the heart of Brussels and is renowned for its many Gothic and Baroque-style buildings. One of the world’s most unforgettable urban ensembles, it is oddly hidden -- the enclosed cobblestone square is only revealed as you enter on foot from one of six narrow side alleys: Rue des Harengs is the best first approach. The focal point is the spired 15th-century City Hall, but each of the antique guildhalls has a charm of its own. Most are embellished with fine baroque gables, gilded statues and elaborate guild symbols.

+ Once every two years, the rectangular shaped "square"’ at the Grand Place turns into a carpet of fresh flowers dubbed the "Flower Carpet." The elaborate patterns and colors are planned well ahead of time and then displayed in a single tableau on the cobblestones of the town square. The design is different every time. Flower Carpets in the past have resembled the borders of Belgian tapestries but in actuality, the designs are symbols and patterns to commemorate certain events or towns. (The flower of choice is begonias, which are robust enough to withstand heat or rain.)