Europe Action & adventure, Animal, Castles & palaces, Central + Landscape pictures

• World

The capital of Scotland combines ancient architecture and fascinating history with a vibrant cultural scene and world-famous festivals.

Admire the greatest works of Michelangelo and da Vinci, see the center of Catholicism and pose with the Leaning Tower of Pisa on this Mediterranean peninsula.

Discover themed gardens, artist pavilions, viewpoints and wildlife stations set around a natural amphitheater in the grounds of a medieval castle. 

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

Make your way along elegant promenades to find medieval churches, thermal spas and stunning gardens in the shadow of the Italian Alps. 

Watch opera in an enormous amphitheater, sample local dishes at the market square and see why Shakespeare set his most famous love story in this medieval city.

For some of the best views over Verona, head up the hill to the castle that stands on the site where the city was founded.

The historical purpose of Ancona’s pentagonal building is as interesting as its architecture. It originally served as a quarantine station for contagious visitors. 

Enjoy picturesque clifftop views in the town where Dracula took form and Captain Cook learned his trade.

One of the world’s smallest countries lies within eastern Italy’s countryside. Visit the longstanding city-state for natural beauty, culture and food specialties.

The rooftop terrace has stunning vistas of central Madrid, while the interior is a hub of the arts, from music and poetry events to lectures and science exhibits.

Gaze at a shoreline dotted with pretty bays and coves, spot Balearic Islands and watch marvelous sunsets at this hilltop viewpoint. 

Admire the craftsmanship of the Tuscan artists and architects that created this richly ornamented bell tower. Climb its staircase for glorious views of Florence. 

Less than an hour from vibrant Naples, this historic coastal community lives life at a sleepier pace.

Explore the crumbling remains and towering gatehouse of this once mighty 14th-century castle, which was an integral part of the English Civil War. 

Watch opera in an enormous amphitheater, sample local dishes at the market square and see why Shakespeare set his most famous love story in this medieval city.

For some of the best views over Verona, head up the hill to the castle that stands on the site where the city was founded.

The rooftop terrace has stunning vistas of central Madrid, while the interior is a hub of the arts, from music and poetry events to lectures and science exhibits.