Europe Action & adventure, Castles & palaces, Central, Landscape + Religious 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.

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.

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.

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

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. 

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Take a break from Munich’s bustling streets among the lakes, meadows and beer gardens of this oasis of calm in the centre of the city.