Europe Castles & palaces, Central + Island & reefs pictures

• World

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.

Explore dozens of elegant rooms, meander through manicured Victorian gardens and watch falcon flying demonstrations at this castle complex.

A setting in one of Shakespeare’s iconic tragedies, this crenellated castle sits on a hill overlooking the River Ness.

Learn about pirates, shipwrecks and birdlife on this island capped with a 17th-century fort or go on a diving tour and experience the vivid underwater world.

Learn about pirates, shipwrecks and birdlife on this island capped with a 17th-century fort or go on a diving tour and experience the vivid underwater world.

Spectacular scenery awaits at the confluence of the Rhine and the Nahe rivers. Learn about this village’s intriguing history.

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

Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.

One of the oldest shopping centres in the world is known for its fine dining, iconic luxury labels and stores selling goods from local craftsmen.

Discover a compelling blend of modern culture and rich heritage in London’s financial heart.

Sitting high on a chunk of rock jutting out into the sea, this iconic medieval-style monastery is an icon of the town of Tropea.

Armouries and pharmacies, rooms filled with fine porcelain, amazing collections of watches and silverware, and never-ending corridors graced by masterpieces.

Sitting high on a chunk of rock jutting out into the sea, this iconic medieval-style monastery is an icon of the town of Tropea.

Maze-like hedges, marble sculptures and colorful flower beds adorn this historic royal garden, where the palace’s stables and carriages once lay.

Imagine you have been transported back in time as you explore this spectacular 11th-century castle, a neo-Gothic masterpiece that seems straight from a story.