Aegean Turkey

View on the agora : columns alonn the western stoa; ; Izmir, Turkey [ Photo by Georges Jansoone JoJan / public domain ]

Izmir (Turkish: İzmir) is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.95 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey. Izmir metropolitan area extends along the outlying waters of the Gulf of İzmir and inland to the north across Gediz River's delta, to the east along an alluvial plain created by several small streams and to a slightly more rugged terrain in the south. The ancient city was known as Smyrna, and the city was generally referred to as Smyrna in English, until the Turkish Postal Services Law of 1930 made "Izmir" the internationally recognized name. The city of Izmir is composed of several metropolitan districts. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ruins of the Temple of Athena [ Photo by Gregorof / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Assos (Greek: Άσσος), also known as Behramkale or for short Behram, is a small historically rich town in the Ayvacık district of the Çanakkale Province, Turkey. After leaving the Platonic Academy in Athens, Aristotle (joined by Xenocrates) went to Assos, where he was welcomed by King Hermias, and opened an Academy in this city. Aristotle also married Pythias, the adopted daughter of Hermias. In the Academy of Assos, Aristotle became a chief to a group of philosophers, and together with them, he made innovative observations on zoology and biology. When the Persians attacked Assos, King Hermias was caught and put to death. Aristotle fled to Macedonia, which was ruled by his friend King Philip II of Macedon. There, he tutored Philip's son, Alexander the Great. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View of Ayvalık [ Photo by Mr. Vehbi Moğol / CC BY 3.0 ]

Ayvalık is a district in Turkey's Balıkesir Province on the Aegean Sea coast, facing the Greek island of Lesbos. It is situated on a narrow coastal plain surrounded by low hills to the east which are covered with pine and olive trees. Ayvalık is also surrounded by the archipelago of the Ayvalık Islands on the sea and by a narrow peninsula in the south named the Hakkıbey Peninsula. Ayvalık is the southernmost district of Balıkesir. Gömeç, Burhaniye and Edremit are other districts of the Balıkesir Province which are situated on the Aegean shores and they are lined up respectively to the north. The region is under the influence of a typical Mediterranean climate with mild and rainy winters and hot, dry summers. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ayaskent, a municipality of the Bergama district of İzmir [ Photo by Yuksel altug / public domain ]

Bergama is a populous district, as well as the center city of the same district, in İzmir Province in western Turkey. By excluding İzmir's metropolitan area, it is one of the prominent districts of the province in terms of population and is largely urbanized at the rate of 53,6 per cent. Tire center is situated at a distance of 118 km (73 mi) to the north from the point of departure of the traditional center of İzmir (Konak Square in Konak, İzmir) and lies at a distance of 27 km (17 mi) inland from the nearest seacoast at the town of Dikili to its west. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Southeast view of Bodrum Castle. Bodrum Castle (Bodrum Kalesi), located in southwest Turkey in the city of Bodrum [ Photo by Ad Meskens / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bodrum is a port city in Muğla Province, in the southwestern Aegean Region of Turkey. It is located on the southern coast of Bodrum Peninsula, at a point that checks the entry into the Gulf of Gökova. The city was called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was famous for housing the Mausoleum of Mausolus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Bodrum Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 15th century, overlooks the harbour and the marina. The castle grounds include a Museum of Underwater Archeology and hosts several cultural festivals throughout the year. The region includes the municipalities of Bodrum, Turgutreis, Ortakent, Türkbükü, Yalıkavak, Gümüşlük, Bitez, Konacık, Yalı and Mumcular; with many tourist-oriented developments being constructed across the district area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Cesme, Izmir, Turchia [ Photo by OscarKosy / CC BY 3.0 ]

Çeşme is a coastal town and the center-town of the district of the same name in Turkey's western-most end, on a promontory on the tip of the peninsula which also carries the same name and which extends inland to form a whole with the wider Karaburun Peninsula. It is a popular holiday resort and the district center, where two thirds of the district population is concentrated, is located 85 km. west of İzmir, the largest metropolitan center in Turkey's Aegean Region. There is a six-lane highway connecting the two cities. Çeşme district has two neighboring districts, Karaburun to the north and Urla to the east, both of which are also part of İzmir Province. The name "Çeşme" means "fountain" and possibly draws reference from the many Ottoman fountains scattered across the city. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Datça coast – Muğla, Turkey [ Photo by Ostique / public domain ]

Datça is a district of Muğla Province in south-west Turkey, and the center town of the district. The center is situated midway through the peninsula which carries the same name as the district and the town (Datça Peninsula). Datça Peninsula is a prized location for tourists visiting Turkey, especially by sea, because of the beauty of its many coves and larger bays, which are favored ports of call for those undertaking the celebrated Blue Cruise along Turkey's spectacular southwest coast. Boats (usually gulets) depart either from Bodrum or Marmaris, or from Datça itself for these tours. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Denizli belediyesi Delikliçınar Meydanı [ Photo by Citrat / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Denizli is a growing industrial city in the Southwestern part of Turkey and the eastern end of the alluvial valley formed by the river Büyük Menderes, where the plain reaches an elevation of about a hundred meters. Denizli is located in southwestern Turkey, in the country's Aegean Region. Denizli has achieved a remarkable economic development in the last decades based notably on textile production and exports. Having become a vibrant center of manufacturing focused on exportation, Denizli is frequently cited, along with a number of other Turkish cities, as one of the foremost examples of "Anatolian Tigers" in reference to its rapid pace of development. The weather is hot in Denizli in summers, whereas in winters, it may occasionally be very cold with snow on the mountains that surround the city. Some years, snow can be observed in the urban areas. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Benutzer:Dietmar Giljohann. [ Photo by Kuşadası, with Güvercin Adası seen in the background / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kuşadasıis a resort town on Turkey's Aegean coast and the center of the seaside district of the same name in Aydın Province. Kuşadası lies at a distance of 95 km (59 mi) to the south from the region's largest metropolitan center of İzmir, and 71 km (44 mi) from the provincial seat of Aydın situated inland. Its primary industry is tourism. Her neighbours are Germencik district from northeast, Söke one from southeast, Aegean Sea from west and Selçuk district from north. Kuşadası has a residential population of 64,359 rising to over half a million during the summer when the large resort fills with tourists (from Turkey itself, northern Europe and the Balkans), plus the hotel staff, bar staff, construction workers, and drivers who are needed to work in the restaurants servicing all these visitors. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Celsius Library in the ancient city of Ephesus, Turkey. [ Photo by Djenan Kozic (http://www.djenankozic.com). / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ephesus (Ancient Greek Ἔφεσος, Ephesos; Turkish Efes) was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era. In the Roman period, Ephesus had a population of more than 250,000 in the 1st century BC, which also made it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world. The ruins of Ephesus are a favorite international and local tourist attraction, partly owing to their easy access from Adnan Menderes Airport and via the port of Kuşadası. Ephesus was founded as an Attic-Ionian colony in the 10th century BC on the Ayasuluk Hill, three kilometers from the center of ancient Ephesus (as attested by excavations at the Seljuk castle during the 1990s). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Limestone concretions in Pamukkale, Turkey [ Photo by Traroth / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year. Pamukkale is a tourist attraction. It is recognized as a World Heritage Site together with Hierapolis. Hierapolis-Pamukkale was made a World Heritage Site in 1988. The ancient Greco-Roman and Byzantine city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is in total about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Black Sea Turkey

Yalıboyu houses in Amasya [ Photo by Karsten Dörre (grizurgbg) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Amasya, the Amaseia of antiquity, is the capital of the administrative district of Amasya Province in northern Turkey. The population of the province is 334,786 and the population of the city is 99 905. The mayor is Cafer Özdemir (AKP). In recent years, invesments on tourism started to increase and provided that city started to attract more foreign and domestic tourists. Restoration of the traditional Ottoman houses near the Yeşilirmak and other main historical buildings caused to that and these traditional Yalıboyu houses started to use as cafe, bar, restaurant, pub, hotel etc. This is the another point of how city attracted tourists. Ottoman wooden houses and on the background of these houses, you can see King Rock Tombs from Pontus Greeks. This view feels like an open-air museum. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Panorama from Amasra [ Photo by Nevit Dilmen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Amasra (pop. 7000; from Greek Amastris Ἄμαστρις, gen. Ἀμάστριδος) is a small Black Sea port town in the Bartın Province, Turkey. The town is today much appreciated for its beaches and natural setting, which has made tourism the most important activity for its inhabitants. The mayor is Emin Timur (CHP). Situated in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, the original city seems to have been called Sesamus (Greek: Σήσαμος), and it is mentioned by Homer in conjunction with Cytorus. Stephanus says that it was originally called Cromna; but in another place, where he repeats the statement, he adds, as it is said; but some say that Cromna is a small place in the territory of Amastris, which is the true account. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Pinarlar (means springs in eng.), a village of Dereli district of Giresun Province located in Black Sea Region of Turkey. [ Photo by Dr. Zeynel Cebeci / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Giresunis the provincial capital of Giresun Province in the Black Sea Region of northeastern Turkey, about 175 km (109 mi) west of the city of Trabzon. Giresun was known to the ancient Greeks as Choerades or Pharnacia and later as Kerasous or Cerasus, < Kerason < Kerasounta < Keras "horn" (for peninsula) in Greek + ounta, a Greek toponomical suffix. Öztürk claims that Cape Zephyros settlement oldest than the Kerasus or Pharnakia and its Greek name Giraprinos or Yero Prinos (γέρο πρίνος) "Old Oak" basic translation of the native Kolchian/Laz name The name later mutated into Kerasunt (sometimes written Kérasounde or Kerassunde). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Rize is the capital of Rize Province, in northeast Turkey, on the Black Sea coast. [ Photo by sly06 / CC BY 2.0 ]

The name comes from Greek ριζα (riza) or Ριζαίον (Rizaion), meaning "mountain slopes". In modern times, its name in Greek was usually Ριζούντα (Rizounta). Its Latin forms are Rhizus and Rhizaeum (which remains the name of a Catholic titular see in the province of Pontus Polemoniacus). In Ottoman period, it was called Rize (ريزه). The Georgian name is Rize (რიზე), Laz name is Rizini (რიზინი) The first written mention of Rize is made by Arrianus in a work named Periplo (Ship's Voyage). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Traditional houses of Safranbolu, Karabük, Turkey [ Photo by Uğur Başak / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Safranbolu is a town and district of Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It is about two hundred kilometers north of Ankara and about a hundred kilometers south of the Black Sea coast, or more precisely about 9 kilometers north of the city of Karabük. Former Turkish names of the town were Zalifre and Taraklıborlu and in Greek Saframpolis, Σαφραμπολις. It was part of Kastamonu Province until 1923 and Zonguldak Province between 1923 and 1995. According to the 2000 census, the population of the district is 47,257, of which 31,697 live in the town of Safranbolu. The district covers an area of 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi), and the town lies at an elevation of 485 m (1,591 ft). The Old Town preserves many old buildings, with 1008 registered historical artifacts. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Statue of Atatürk, sign of Samsun, Turkey, made by Heinrich Krippel in 1931. [ Photo by Kurt Kulac / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Samsun is a city of about half a million people on the north coast of Turkey. It is the provincial capital of Samsun Province and a major Black Sea port. Samsun (then known as Amisos, alternative spelling Amisus) was settled between the years of 760 – 750 BC by people from Miletus, who established a flourishing trade relationship with the ancient peoples of Anatolia. Samsun's ideal combination of fertile ground and shallow waters attracted numerous traders. In the 3rd century BC, Samsun came under the expanded rule of the Kingdom of Pontus. The Kingdom of Pontus had been part of the empire of Alexander the Great. However, the empire was fractured soon after Alexander's death in the 4th century BC. At its height, the kingdom controlled the north of central Anatolia and mercantile towns on the northern Black Sea shores. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sea wall in Sinop [ Photo by Aramgar / public domain ]

Sinop (Greek: Σινώπη, Sinōpē) is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun (İnceburun, Cape Ince), by its Cape Sinop (Sinop Burnu, Boztepe Cape, Boztepe Burnu) which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of the Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope. It is the capital of Sinop Province. Sinop has warm and humid summers with an average of 26°C (78.8°F) however temperatures rarely exceed +30°C (86°F). The highest recorded temperature for Sinop was 34.4°C (93.92°F) on 06 July 2000. The winters are cool and wet. The average for winter ranging around 5°C (41°F). The lowest recorded temperature for Sinop was -7.5°C (18.5°F) on 21 February 1985. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Trabzon walls [ Photo by Alaexis / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Trabzonis a city on the Black Sea coast of north-eastern Turkey and the capital of Trabzon Province. Trabzon, located on the historical Silk Road, became a melting pot of religions, languages and culture for centuries and a trade gateway to Iran in the southeast and the Caucasus to the northeast. The Venetian and Genoese merchants paid visits to Trebizond during the medieval period and sold silk, linen and woolen fabric; with the Republic of Genoa having an important merchant colony within the city that was similar to Galata near Constantinople (across the Golden Horn) in present-day Istanbul. Trabzon formed the basis of several states in its long history and was the capital city of the Empire of Trebizond between 1204 and 1461. During the Ottoman period, Trabzon, because of the importance of its port, became a focal point of trade to Iran and the Caucasus. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Zonguldak, Turkey, center [ Photo by Bertramz / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Zonguldak is a city and the capital of Zonguldak Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Its population, according to the 2009 census, was 108,792. It is an important port on the Black Sea because of the coal mining in Zonguldak Province. The mayor is İsmail Eşref (CHP). The city's name probably comes from Zone Geul-Dagh, the name given to the area by French and Belgian mining companies. Göldağı ("Lake Mountain") is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Devrek district. Following information about Ereğli coal mining history, will help us to understand Zonguldak name is originated from Zone Geul-Dagh in French: (In Catholic Encyclopedia, with reference of year 1908, Zonguldak town is called as "Zoungoul-Dagh" or in Turkish, Zoungoul mountain; or with Turkish+French meaning, Lake/Göl mountain zone… (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ayder [ Photo by Ergin53 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Average altitude is 1,350 metres (4,430 ft). It is a part of Çamlıhemşin district of Rize Province. The distance to Çamlıhemşin is 17 kilometres (11 mi) and to Rize is 88 kilometres (55 mi). In 1987 the location was decleared touristic center by the government. Ayder is also famous for honey which is Rhodedendron honey and produced in beehives hung on trees. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Sümela Monastery as seen from across the narrow Altındere valley that it is located in, south of Trabzon in Eastern Turkey. [ Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Sümela Monastery (Turkish: Sümela Manastırı), Greek: Μονή Παναγίας Σουμελά, i.e. monastery of the Panaghia ("All Holy", the Greek name for the Virgin Mary) at Melá mountain is a Greek Orthodox monastery, standing at the foot of a steep cliff facing the Altındere valley, in the region of Maçka in the Trabzon Province of modern Turkey. At an altitude of about 1,200 metres (3,900 ft), it is a major tourist attraction of Altındere National Park. Today the monastery's primary function is as a tourist attraction. It overlooks forests and streams, making it extremely popular for its aesthetic attraction as well as for its cultural and religious significance. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Central Anatolia

Atakule Tower and Atrium mall in central Ankara [ Photo by Scisa from nl / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ankarais the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of 938 metres (3,077 ft), and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million. The region's history can be traced back to the Bronze Age Hatti civilization, which was succeeded in the 2nd millennium BC by the Hittites, in the 10th century BC by the Phrygians, and later by the Lydians, Persians, Greeks, Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, and Turks (the Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm, the Ottoman Empire and Turkey.) Ancyra's importance rested on the fact was that it was the junction point where the roads in northern Anatolia running north-south and east-west intersected. The great imperial road running east passed through Ankara and a succession of emperors and their armies came this way. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Monumental entrance of the Sultanhani caravanserai at en:Aksaray, Turkey. [ Photo by Georges Jansoone (JoJan) / CC BY 3.0 ]

Aksarayis a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey and the capital district of Aksaray Province. According to 2009 census, population of the province is 376 907 of which 171,423 live in the city of Aksaray. The district covers an area of 4,589 km2 (1,772 sq mi), and the average elevation is 980 m (3,215 ft), with the highest point being Mt. Hasan at 3,253 m (10,673 ft). Ihlara Valley and the other tourist attractions of Cappadocia are close, but as yet, Aksaray has not been very successful in attracting visitors to the city self. A new attraction in Aksaray city is Hünkarland, a large theme park with artificial waterfalls and which has immediately become a popular venue for Aksaray wedding parties. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği [ Photo by Hüseyin Avni Yazıcı / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Divriği (Greek: Τεφρική; Tephrike) is a town and a district of Sivas Province of Turkey. The town lies on gentle slope on the south bank of the Çaltısuyu river, a tributary of the Karasu river. During the Byzantine period the town, then called Tephrike, was an important stronghold for the dualist heretic Armenian Paulicians. Their leader, Karbeas, founded it ca. 850, and the Paulicians fortified it and used it as refuge and the capital of their semi-independent state during the ninth century. It was captured by the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Emperor Basil I and was temporarily named Leontokome (after Emperor Leo VI) and made into a thema. In the early eleventh century, the town was part of the territory given to the Armenian king Senekerim-Hovhannes in exchange for his lands in Vaspurakan. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Old houses in Odunpazarı [ Photo by Honacan / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Eskişehir(Latin: Dorylaeum; Ancient Greek: Δορύλαιον, Dorýlaion) is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby hills one can find hot springs. The city is 233 km (145 mi) to the west of Ankara, 330 km (205 mi) to the southeast of Istanbul and 78 km (48 mi) to the northeast of Kütahya. Known as a university town, both Eskişehir Osmangazi University and Anadolu University (which has one of the largest student enrollments in the world) are based in Eskişehir. The province covers an area of 2,678 km2 (1,034 sq mi). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Walls of the Seljuk era Sahabiye Medresesi, built in 1267 by the Seljuk vizier Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali. [ Photo by Hasan Sami Bolak / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kayseriis a large and industrialized city in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is the seat of Kayseri Province. The city of Kayseri, as defined by the boundaries of Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality, is structurally composed of five metropolitan districts, the two core districts of Kocasinan and Melikgazi, and since 2004, also Hacılar, İncesu and Talas. In conjunction with the addition of new districts and first stage municipalities into the metropolitan area, the city's population, which was 690,000 in 2000, was over 1,050,000 as of 2010, making it the seventh most populous city in Turkey. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ince Minaret Medrese (1279) [ Photo by Intension / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Konyais a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey. Konya, also spelled in some historic English texts as Konia or Koniah, was known in classical antiquity and during the medieval period as Iconium in Latin, and Ἰκόνιον (Ikónion) in Greek. The name Konya is a cognate of icon, as an ancient Greek legend ascribed its name to the "eikon" (image), or the "gorgon's (Medusa's) head", with which Perseus vanquished the native population before founding the city. Excavations have shown that the region was inhabited during the Late Copper Age, around 3000 BC. The city came under the influence of the Hittites around 1500 BC. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kütahya Clock Tower [ Photo by "Starliner / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kütahya is a city in western Turkey with 212,444 inhabitants (2009 estimate), lying on the Porsuk river, at 969 metres above sea level. It is the capital of Kütahya Province, inhabited by some 517 804 people (2009 estimate). The region of Kütahya has large areas of gentle slopes with agricultural land culminating in high mountain ridges to the north and west. The city's Greek name was Kotyaion, latinized in Roman times as Cotyaeum, a name it retains as a titular Catholic see. Lequien (I, 851) mentions ten bishops, the last in the 14th century. The first is Cyrus, sent thither by Theodosius II, after four bishops had been slain by the inhabitants. The industries of Kütahya have long traditions, going back to ancient times. Kütahya is famous for its kiln products, such as tiles and pottery, which are glazed and multicoloured. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Hazal Bengühan Akbaş, wowturkey.com [ Photo by Cretanforever / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Nevşehir, formerly Muşkara, (maybe the ancient city of Nyssa, Νύσσα in Ancient Greek), is a city and the capital district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. According to the 2010 census, population of the district is 117,890 of which 85,634 631 live in the city of Nevşehir. The district covers an area of 535 km2 (207 sq mi), and the town lies at an average elevation of 1,224 m (4,016 ft). A settlement was founded on the slopes of Mount Kahveci in the valley of Kızılırmak (the ancient Halys) by the Hittites. The town along with the region came under the rule of the Assyrian Empire around the 8th century BC, then by the Medes and then by the Persians in the reign of emperor Cyrus the Great in 546 BC. In 333 BC Alexander the Great defeated the Persians. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Street in sivas, Turkey [ Photo by Seckinoral / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The city, which lies at an elevation of 4,193 feet (1,278 m) in the broad valley of the Kızılırmak river, is a moderately-sized trade center and industrial city, although the economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. Rail repair shops and a thriving manufacturing industry of rugs, bricks, cement, and cotton and woolen textiles form the mainstays of the city's economy. The surrounding region is a cereal-producing area with large deposits of iron ore which are worked at Divriği. Sivas is also a communications hub for the north-south and east-west trade routes to Iraq and Iran, respectively. With the development of railways, the city gained new economic importance as junction of important rail lines linking the cities of Kayseri, Samsun, and Erzurum. The city is linked by air to Istanbul. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Beypazari Taşmektep [ Photo by Nevit Dilmen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Beypazarı (Ancient Greek: Λαγανια, Lagania) is a town and district of Ankara Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, approximately 100 km west of the city of Ankara. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 46,493 of which 35,775 live in the town of Beypazarı. The district covers an area of 1,814 km2 (700 sq mi), and the average elevation in the center is 675 m (2,215 ft). The district contains three other small towns (Karaşar, Uruş, Kırbaşı) and 64 villages. It used to be an important city in Asia Minor in ancient times. The name Beypazarı means The Bey's market in Turkish, as in the Ottoman period this was an important military base and the cavalry stationed here were an important element of the local economy. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey, is known for its Göreme National Park, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. [ Photo by Mila Zinkova Edit by CillanXC / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Cappadocia ( ; also Capadocia; Turkish Kapadokya, from Greek: Καππαδοκία / Kappadokía, Armenian: Կապադովկիա Kapadovkia, Persian: کاپادوکیه‎ Kāpādōkiyeh) is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province. The best historic mansions and cave houses for tourist stays are in Urgup, Goreme, Guzelyurt, and Uchisar. The name was traditionally used in Christian sources throughout history and is still widely used as an international tourism concept to define a region of exceptional natural wonders, in particular characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. The term, as used in tourism, roughly corresponds to present-day Nevşehir Province. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Eastern Anatolia

Tohma canyon, Darende, Turkey [ Photo by Tony f / CC BY 3.0 ]

Darende is in Malatya. Darende is a city that is a centre of science and culture, on the ancient silk road. The city center of the charm on the East Anatolia Region is a statue of door which is the entrance of city Malatya. The largest district of Malatya is Darende. Darende is located in the west of the city and region, again placed on the trade route that is on the upper part of Euphrate (Firat) and on the valley of Tohma that ancient caravans passed. The district, placed on the road between Ankara and Istanbul have borders by west of Hekimhan and South of Akçadağ and southern west of Gürün, and North of Kuluncak and Kangal. It has 1540m2 area. Its height above sea level is 1006 m. Satellite view of Darende. Balaban, Aşaği Ulupinar, Yenice, Ayvali, Ilica and Ağilbaşi towns, and there are 44 villages in Darende. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ishak Pasha Palace near Doğubayazıt [ Photo by Myararat83 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Doğubayazıt (Armenian: Դարոյնք, Դարենից Kurdish: Bazîd or Bayizd) is a city and district of Ağrı Province of Turkey, and is Turkey's most eastern district, the border crossing to Iran. Elevation 1625 m. Area 2,383 km². Population (2010) 115,354 (up from 73,794 in 1980) of which 69,447 live in the town of Doğubeyazıt, the remainder in the surrounding countryside. The town of Doğubayazıt is a settlement with a long history. It lies 15 km southwest of Mount Ararat, 93 km east of the city of Ağrı and 35 km from the Iranian border. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Seljuk era Çifte Minareli Medrese (Twin Minaret Madrasa) is the symbol of the city and appears on its coat of arms. [ Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Erzurum (Kurdish: Erzorom) is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital (the provincial seat) of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters (5766 feet) above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. (by 2010 it increased to 367,250). Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the Cold War. The city uses the double-headed Anatolian Seljuk Eagle as its coat-of-arms, a motif based on the double-headed Byzantine Eagle that was a common symbol throughout Anatolia and the Balkans in the medieval period. The name "Erzurum" derives from أرض روم "Arz-e Rûm" (literally The Land of the Romans in Arabic with Persian izāfa). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kars city from the fortress. [ Photo by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kars (Armenian: Կարս Kars, Azerbaijani: Qars, Kurdish: Qers) is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010. Little is known of the early history of Kars beyond the fact that it had its own dynasty of Armenian rulers and was the capital of a region known as Vanand. Medieval Armenian historians referred to the city by a variety of names, including "Karuts' K'aghak'" (Kars city), "Karuts' Berd", "Amrots'n Karuts'" (both meaning Kars Fortress) and "Amurn Karuts'" (Impenetrable Kars). At some point in the ninth century (at least by 888) it became part of the territory of the Armenian Bagratunis. For a short time (from 928 to 961) Kars became the capital of their kingdom. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

A view of the Van city [ Photo by Myararat83 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Van (Kurdish: Wan Armenian: Վան Van,) is a city in southeastern Turkey and the seat of the Kurdish-majority Van Province, and is located on the eastern shore of Lake Van. The city's official population in 2010 was 367,419, but many estimates put this as much higher with a 1996 estimate stating 500,000 and former Mayor Burhan Yengun quoted as saying it may be as high as 600,000. Archaeological excavations and surveys carried out in Van province indicate that the history of human settlement in this region goes back at least as far as 5000 BC. The Tilkitepe Mound, which is on the shores of Lake Van and a few kilometres to the south of Van Castle, is the only source of information about the oldest culture of Van. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The medieval Armenian city of Ani now in Turkey as viewed from Armenia. [ Photo by haigoes / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ani (Armenian: Անի) is a ruined and uninhabited medieval Armenian city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars, near the border with Armenia. It was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom that covered much of present day Armenia and eastern Turkey. The city is located on a triangular site, visually dramatic and naturally defensive, protected on its eastern side by the ravine of the Akhurian River and on its western side by the Bostanlar or Tzaghkotzadzor valley. The Akhurian is a branch of the Araks River and forms part of the current border between Turkey and Armenia. Called the "City of 1001 Churches", Ani stood on various trade routes and its many religious buildings, palaces, and fortifications were amongst the most technically and artistically advanced structures in the world. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View to the tomb-sanctuary of Mount Nemrut with heads of huge statues in front. [ Photo by Florian Koch / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Nemrut or Nemrud (Turkish: Nemrut Dağı ; Armenian: Նեմրութ լեռ) is a 2,134 m (7,001 ft) high mountain in southeastern Turkey, notable for the summit where a number of large statues are erected around what is assumed to be a royal tomb from the 1st century BCE. The mountain lies 40 km (25 mi) north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues (8–9 m/26–30 ft high) of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, Armenian, and Iranian gods, such as Hercules-Vahagn, Zeus-Aramazd or Oromasdes (associated with the Iranian god Ahura Mazda), Tyche, and Apollo-Mithras. These statues were once seated, with names of each god inscribed on them. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Marmara Region

Balıkesir [ Photo by Kürşat / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Balıkesir is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 265,747 inhabitants. Old name is Karesi or Karasi. It is also a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists, who use it as a base to explore the nearly countryside which is renowned for its beauty, especially nearby Mount Ida (Kaz Dağı). İt is well known with borax deposit. The economic base of the city is both agricultural and industrial. The biggest industrial enterprises are Ari-Turyag, Set Cimento, BEST, Mar-Tük, İsbir, Kula, Tellioglu, Bupilic and Yaris Kabin which are among the first thousand factories in Turkey as of 2008. Balıkesir city is also important for the stock breeding. Surrounding the city, are numerous dairies. The city is also an agricultural centre. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Darwinek [ Photo by Zafer Plaza Alışveriş Merkezi in Bursa / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bursais a city in northwestern Turkey and the seat of Bursa Province. The metropolitan area in the entire Bursa province had a population of 2.6 million as of 2010, making the city the fourth most populous in Turkey. The city is equally one of the most industrialized metropolitan centers in the country. Bursa was the capital of the Ottoman State between 1326 and 1365. The city was referred to as "Hüdavendigar" (meaning "God's Gift") during the Ottoman period, while a more recent nickname is "Yeşil Bursa" (meaning "Green Bursa") in reference to the parks and gardens located across its urban tissue, as well as to the vast forests in rich variety that extend in the surrounding region. The city is synonymous with Mount Uludağ which towers behind its core and which is also a famous ski resort. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The fortress in Canakkale, Turkey [ Photo by Radosław Botev / free for use ]

Çanakkaleis a town and seaport in Turkey, in Çanakkale Province, on the southern (Asian) coast of the Dardanelles (or Hellespont) at their narrowest point. The population of the town is 106,116 (2010 estimate). The current mayor is Ülgür Gökhan (CHP). The city is the nearest major town to the site of ancient Troy. The "wooden horse" from the 2004 movie Troy is exhibited on the seafront. Çanakkale is the second city to be situated on two continents after Istanbul. However Çanakkale is closer to mid-division than Istanbul. There is a Jewish community. Çanakkale was an Ottoman fortress called Kale-i Sultaniye (Ottoman Turkish: قلعة سلطانيه) or Sultaniye kalesi (Fortress of the Sultan). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Edirne Turkey [ Photo by Nevit Dilmen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Edirne is a city in Eastern Thrace, the northwestern part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. Edirne served as the capital city of the Ottoman Empire from 1365 to 1453, before Constantinople (Istanbul) became the empire's new capital. At present, Edirne is the capital of the Edirne Province in Turkish Thrace. The city's estimated population in 2010 was 138,793, up from 119,298 in 2000. It has consulates of Bulgaria, Germany (Honorary), Greece, Romania (Honorary) and Slovakia (Honorary). Its sister cities are Haskovo and Yambol in Bulgaria and Alexandroupolis in Greece. There is a Jewish community. Also, the existence of many historical and natural touristic places and events lead the fact that tourism has become a leading component of the economic growth of the city in recent years. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey [ Photo by Dersaadet / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul), historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province (municipality) had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe (including the Asian side of the city) after London and Moscow. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in the city, catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals. In 2006 a total of 23,148,669 tourists visited Turkey, most of whom entered the country through the airports and seaports of Istanbul and Antalya. The total number of tourists who entered Turkey through Atatürk International Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul reached 5,346,658, rising from 4,849,353 in 2005. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

İzmit [ Photo by Kocaeli Büyükşehir Belediyesi / public domain ]

İzmit (Greek: Νικομήδεια, Nicomedia) is a city in Turkey, administrative center of Kocaeli Province as well as the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality. It is located at the Gulf of İzmit (the ancient Gulf of Astacus) in the Sea of Marmara, about 100 km (62 mi) east of Istanbul, on the northwestern part of Anatolia. The city center has a population of 293,339 (2010 census). The population of the province (including rural areas) is 1,459,772 (Unlike other provinces in Turkey apart from Istanbul, the whole province is now included within the municipality of the metropolitan center.) Nicomedia was the eastern and most senior capital city of the Roman Empire between 286 and 324, during the Tetrarchy introduced by Diocletian. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Roman theatre in Nicaea (Iznik). [ Photo by QuartierLatin1968 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Nicaea (Greek: Νίκαια) was a Hellenic city in northwestern Anatolia, and is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea (the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Church), the Nicene Creed (which comes from the First Council), and as the capital city of the Empire of Nicaea. It served as the interim capital city of the Byzantine Empire between 1204 and 1261, following the Fourth Crusade in 1204, until the recapture of Constantinople by the Byzantines in 1261. The ancient city is located within modern Iznik, Turkey, and is situated in a fertile basin at the eastern end of Lake Ascanius, bounded by ranges of hills to the north and south. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Portion of the legendary walls of Troy (VII), identified as the site of the Trojan War (ca. 1200 BC). [ Photo by Adam Carr's mother / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Troy (Hittite: Wilusa or Truwisa; Greek: Ἴλιον, Ilion, and Τροία, Troia; Latin: Trōia and Īlium; Turkish: Truva) was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida. It is best known for being the setting of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Metrical evidence from the Iliad and the Odyssey seems to show that the name Ἴλιον (Ilion) formerly began with a digamma: Ϝίλιον (Wilion). This was later supported by the Hittite form Wilusa. Today, the hill at Hisarlik has given its name to a small village near the ruins, supporting the tourist trade visiting the Troia archaeological site. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Assumed top of Uludağ range in Western Turkey, that is Kartaltepe [ Photo by Bicounet / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Uludağ, the ancient Mysian Olympus, is a mountain in Bursa Province, Turkey, with an altitude of 2,543 m (8,343 ft). It is a popular center for winter sports such as skiing, and a national park of rich flora and fauna. Summer activities, such as trekking and camping, also are popular. In Turkish, Uludağ means "Sublime Mountain", but in colloquial Turkish, the older name Keşiş Dağı, "Mountain of Monks," is still used. In ancient times the range of which it is a part, extending along the southern edge of Bithynia, was known as Olympos in Greek and Olympus in Latin, the western extremity being known as the Mysian Olympus and the eastern as the Bithynian Olympus, and the city of Bursa was known as Prusa ad Olympum from its position near the mountain. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Bozcaada Castle, Çanakkale, Turkey [ Photo by Filanca / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Tenedos or Bozcaada or Bozdja-Ada (Turkish: Bozcaada, Greek: Τένεδος, Tenedhos) is a small island in the Aegean Sea, part of the Bozcaada district of Çanakkale province in Turkey. As of 2010[update], Tenedos has a population of about 2,354. The main industries are tourism, wine production and fishing. The island has been famous for its grapes, wines and red poppies for centuries. Long and fine beaches and the historical town of the island attract Turkish and foreign tourists. Residents hire parts of their houses as pensions. There also are small hotels. In 1362, the Venetians offered to pay the Emperor's debts and lead an alliance against the Turks in exchange for Tenedos, but John V refused to cede the island which had been loyal to him. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Imbros [ Photo by Ggia / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Imbros or Imroz, officially referred to as Gökçeada since July 29, 1970 (older name in Turkish: İmroz; Greek: Ίμβρος – Imvros), is an island in the Aegean Sea and the largest island of Turkey, part of Çanakkale Province. It is located at the entrance of Saros Bay and is also the westernmost point of Turkey (Cape İncirburnu). Imbros has an area of 279 km2 (108 sq mi) and contains some wooded areas. According to the 2000 census, the island of Imbros had a total population of 8,875. The same census also reported 7,254 people in Cinarli, and 1,621 in the remaining villages. The main industries of Imbros are fishing and tourism. The population is predominantly Turkish but there are still about 250 Greeks on Imbros, most of them elderly. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sunset at Avşa Istand, Turkey [ Photo by Nevit Dilmen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Avşa Island (Turkish: Avşa Adası) or Türkeli is a Turkish island in the southern Sea of Marmara. It was the classical and Byzantine Aphousia (Greek: Αφουσία[dubious – discuss]) or Ophiousa (Οφιούσα) and was a place of exile during the Byzantine period. It is a popular domestic tourist destination, especially for tourists from Istanbul. The local population is around 2,000 according to the last census, but during in the summer season the number of visitors increases as far as forty to fifty thousand. The exact location of Avşa island is shown in the following map in red color. The larger island north of Avşa is the island of Marmara and the island to the east is Paşalimanı. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ferry port in Büyükada [ Photo by Darwinek / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Princes' Islands (Turkish: Prens Adaları [Prince Islands] or more commonly Kızıl Adalar [Red Islands] or just Adalar as they are officially named; classical Greek: Πριγκήπων νήσοι Prinkēpōn nēsoi, modern Greek: τα Πριγκηπόνησα ta Prinkiponisa or Πριγκηπονήσια Prinkiponisia), are a chain of nine islands off the coast of Istanbul, Turkey, in the Sea of Marmara. The islands also constitute the Adalar (literally Islands or Isles) district of Istanbul Province. The mayor of the Adalar (Isles) district is Mustafa Farsakoğlu (CHP). The monastery attracts tourists from all over Greece and Turkey. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mediterranean Turkey

Konyaaltı Beach as seen from the nearby cliffs [ Photo by Bozaltan / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Antalya (from Greek: Aττάλεια, "Attalia") is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It was the world's fourth most visited city by number of international arrivals in 2010 and had a population of 1,001,318. Antalya is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort. It is uncertain when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamon, was believed to have founded the city around 150 BC, naming it Attalia and selecting it as a naval base for his powerful fleet. However, excavations in 2008 in the Doğu Garajı district of Antalya have uncovered remains dating to the 3rd century BC, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Roman Stone Bridge, Adana, Turkey [ Photo by MUSTAFA TOR / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Adanais a city in southern Turkey and a major agricultural and commercial center. The city is situated on the Seyhan River, 30 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea, in south-central Anatolia. It is the administrative seat of the Adana Province and has a population of 1.6 million, making it the fifth most populous city in Turkey. Adana-Mersin metropolitan area, with a population of 3 million, stretches over 100 km from east to west and 25 km from north to south; encompassing the cities of Mersin, Tarsus, Adana and Ceyhan. Adana is located at the northeastern edge of the Mediterranean, where it serves as the gateway to the Çukurova plain, which has historically been known in the West as the Cilicia plain. This large stretch of flat, fertile land lies southeast of the Taurus Mountains. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

eastern part of Alanya taken from the castle [ Photo by Euku / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Alanya, formerly Alaiye, is a beach resort city and a component district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, 166 kilometres (103 mi) from the city of Antalya. On the southern coast of Turkey, the district (which includes the city and its built-up area) has an area of 1,598.51 km2 and (2010 Census) 248,286 inhabitants (city 98,627). The population is almost entirely of Turkish origin, but is home to around 10,000 European residents. Atatürk Bulvarı, the main boulevard, runs parallel to the sea, and divides the southern, much more touristic side of Alanya from the northern, more indigenous side that extends north into the mountains. Çevre Yolu Caddesi, another major road, encircles the main town to the north. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Antakya [ Photo by Ozanpol / public domain ]

Antakya (Arabic: انطاكية‎, Anṭākyä from Syriac: ܐܢܛܝܘܟܝܐ, Anṭiokia; Greek: Ἀντιόχεια, Antiókheia or Antiócheia) is the seat of the Hatay Province in southern Turkey, near the border with Syria. The mayor is Lütfü Savaş. Known as Antioch in ancient times, the city has historical significance for Christianity, as it was the place where the followers of Jesus Christ were called Christians for the first time. The city and its massive walls also played an important role during the Crusades. In 1822 (and again in 1872), Antakya was hit by an earthquake and damaged. When Egyptian general Ibrahim Pasha established his headquarters in the city in 1835, it had only some 5,000 inhabitants. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Lykien Graves In Fethiye [ Photo by Widescreen / public domain ]

Modern Fethiye is located on the site of the ancient city of Telmessos, the ruins of which can be seen in the city, e.g. the Hellenistic theatre by the main quay. Over 7,000 British citizens permanently live in Fethiye, while approximately 600,000 British tourists visit the town every summer. A Lycian legend explains the source of the name Telmessos as follows: The god Apollo falls in love with the youngest daughter of the King of Phoenicia, Agenor. He disguises himself as a small dog and thus gains the love of the shy, withdrawn daughter. After he reappears as a handsome man, they have a son, whom they name 'Telmessos' (the land of lights). The city became part of the Persian Empire after the invasion of the Persian King Harpagos in 547 BC, along with other Lycian and Carian cities. Telmessos then joined the Attic-Delos Union established in mid-5th century BC. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The turkish town of Kaş (Antalya) seen from South [ Photo by Alessandro57 / public domain ]

Kaşis a small fishing, diving, yachting and tourist town, and a district of Antalya Province of Turkey, 168km west of the city of Antalya. As a tourist town it is relatively unspoiled. The tourist industry is centred on the pleasant town of Kaş, but many other coastal towns and villages in the district have plenty of accommodation for visitors including Kalkan and Gelemiş. The district can be reached from both Antalya and Dalaman airports. The town of Kaş is on a hill running down to the sea. The district has a typical Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters, which allows the growth of oranges, lemons and bananas. The lowland areas are also planted with cut flowers and a variety of fruits and vegetables, many are grown all year round under glass. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Marmaris.Mares.Turkey [ Photo by Nnevid / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Marmaris' main source of income is tourism. Little is left of the sleepy fishing village that Marmaris was just a few decades ago after a construction boom in the 1980s. Marmaris still retains its charm due to its exceptional location between two intersecting set of mountains by the sea. The town's population was 30,957 in 2010 and peaks at around 300,000 to 400,000 people during the tourism season. Marmaris' nightlife rivals anything on the Turkish coast. October is still warm and bright, though with spells of rain, and many tourists prefer to visit in the early autumn, especially in September, because the temperatures are not as hot. It is also a centre for sailing and diving, possessing two major and several smaller marinas. It is a popular wintering location for hundreds of cruising boaters. It is served by the nearby Dalaman Airport. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Bird's-eye view of Mersin [ Photo by AmericanIDs / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Mersin (Ancient Greek: Ζεφύριον, Zephyrion) is a large city and a busy port on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Mersin Province had a population of 982,429 (city center) as of 2010, making it Turkey's sixth most populous city. It is also part of an interurban agglomeration – Adana-Mersin Metropolitan Area and lies on the west part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region. According to Evliya Çelebi, the city is named after the Mersinoğullari tribe; another theory is that it is derived from the myrtle (Greek: μύρτος, μυρσίνη) which grows abundantly in the region. Mersin is important for Turkey's economy, and Turkey's biggest port is located here. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kayaköy [ Photo by Darwinek / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kayaköy (Greek: Λεβισσι, Levissi or Greek: Καρμυλησσός, Karmylissos, although modern English usage seems to be Karmylassos) is a village 8 km south of Fethiye in southwestern Turkey where Anatolian Greek speaking Christians lived until approximately 1923. The ghost town, now preserved as a museum village, consists of hundreds of rundown but still mostly intact Greek-style houses and churches which cover a small mountainside and serve as a stopping place for tourists visiting Fethiye and nearby Ölüdeniz. It was built on the site of the ancient city of Carmylessus in the 18th century. It experienced a renewal after nearby Fethiye (known as Makri) was devastated by an earthquake in 1856 and a major fire in 1885. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Manavgat waterfals, Turkey [ Photo by pufacz / public domain ]

Manavgat Waterfall on the Manavgat River is near the city of Side, 3 km (2 mi) north of Manavgat, Turkey. Its high flow over a wide area as it falls from a low height is best viewed from a high altitude. The white, foaming water of the Manavgat Waterfalls flows powerfully over the rocks. Near the waterfalls are shady tea gardens providing a pleasant resting place. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Oludeniz beach [ Photo by Hessam M. Armandehi / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ölüdeniz (literally Dead Sea) is a small resort village in the Fethiye district which is in the Muğla Province the South West coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea to the south and the high, steep sided Babadağ Mountain, 14 km (9 mi) south of Fethiye. The town is a beach resort. Ölüdeniz remains one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. It has a secluded sandy bay at the mouth of Ölüdeniz, on a blue lagoon. The beach itself is a pebble beach. The lagoon is a national nature reserve and building is strictly prohibited. Ölüdeniz is famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine, and is an official blue flag beach, and is frequently rated among the top 5 beaches in the world by travelers and tourism journals alike. The resort is also famous for its paragliding opportunities. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Beach near Mount Olimpos, Turkey [ Photo by Hilmi Ayhan / CC BY 2.5 ]

The former city of Olympos was founded in the Hellenistic period, presumably taking its name from nearby Mount Olympos (Turkish: Tahtalı Dağı, Timber Mountain), one of over twenty mountains with the name Olympos in the Classical world. Today the site attracts tourists, not only for the artifacts that can still be found (though fragmentary and widely scattered), but also for its scenic landscapes supporting wild grapevines, flowering oleander, bay trees, figs and pines. From these mountains of the Solymi, according to Homer, the god Poseidon looked out to sea and saw Odysseus sailing away from Calypso's island, and called up a great storm that wrecked him on the shores of the island of Nausicaa. The coins of the city of Olympos date back to the 2nd century BC. It was described by Cicero as an ancient city full of riches and works of art. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Xanthos ruins [ Photo by E, Gyrobo IzmirEkmek / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Xanthos (Lycian: Arñna, Greek: Ξάνθος, Latin: Xanthus, Turkish: Ksantos) was the name of a city in ancient Lycia, the site of present day Kınık, Antalya Province, Turkey, and of the river on which the city is situated. The ruins of Xanthus are on the south slopes of a hill, the ancient acropolis, located on the northern outskirts of the modern city, on the left bank of the Xanthus, which flows beneath the hill. A single road, Xantos yolu, encircles the hill and runs through the ruins. As the center of ancient Lycia and the site of its most extensive antiquities, Xanthus has been a mecca for students of Anatolian civilization since the early 19th century. The site has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Southeastern Anatolia

Batmandan Bir Görünüm [ Photo by Ferhat 72 / public domain ]

Batman (Arabic: باتمان Bātmān‎, Kurdish: Êlih) is a city in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey and the capital of Batman Province. It lies on a plateau, 540 meters above sea level, near the confluence of the Batman River and the Tigris. The Batı Raman oil field, which is the largest oil field in Turkey, is located just outside the city. Batman has a local airport and a military airbase, which was used for transit of aircraft and helicopters in some search and rescue operations of the Gulf War. Until the 1950s, Batman was a village called Iluh with a population of about 3,000. However, oil fields have been discovered around it in the 1940s that resulted in a rapid development of the area and in the inflow of workforce from other parts of Turkey. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

A view of from Diyarbakır [ Photo by Myararat83 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Diyarbakır (Ottoman Turkish دیاربکر, Diyâr-ı Bekr; Armenian: Դիարբեքիր, Diarbeqir; Kurdish ئامه‌د, Amed; anc. Amida, Syriac: ܐܡܝܕ, Amid) is one of the largest cities in southeastern Turkey. Situated on the banks of the River Tigris, it is the administrative capital of the Diyarbakır Province and with a population of about 843,460 it is the second largest city in Turkey's South-eastern Anatolia region, after Gaziantep. Within Turkey. The population of Diyarbakır is made up predominantly of Kurdish people. The name of the city is inscribed as Amid on the sheath of a sword from the Assyrian period, and the same name was used in other contemporary Syriac and Arabic works. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Gaziantep [ Photo by Nevit Dilmen / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Gaziantep, previously and still informally called Antep; ʻayn tāb is a city in southeast Turkey and amongst the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. The city is located 185 kilometres (115 miles) northeast of Adana and 127 kilometres by road north of Aleppo, Syria. The metropolitan area in the entire Gaziantep Province had a population of 1.3 million as of 2010, making it the sixth most populous city in Turkey. The city has two urban districts under its administration, Şahinbey and Şehitkamil. Gaziantep also has a developing tourist industry. Development around the base of the castle upgrades the beauty and accessibility to the castle and to the surrounding copper workshops. New restaurants and tourist friendly businesses are moving into the area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

A view of Şemdinli city, Hakkari [ Photo by Sabri76 / public domain ]

Hakkari also spelled Hakkiari, Hakari, Hakiari, etc., (Syriac: ܚܟܐܪܝ Ḥakkāri, or ܗܟܐܪܝ Hakkāri), was a historical mountainous region lying between the plains on Nineveh to the south of Lake Van, encompassing parts of the modern provinces of Hakkâri, Şırnak, Van in Turkey and Dohuk in Iraq. Little is known about the history of the region before Europeans first visited it in the 18th century. It is thought however that the Christian Assyrian concentration dates back to the 14th century when Timurlane occupied Persia and Mesopotamia and persecuted its Christian populace driving them to the safety of the mountains. By the 16th century the Nestorians disappeared from many cities where they previously thrived, such as in Tabriz and Nisibis. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Traditional mud brick houses shaped like beehives, in the ancient village of Harran, Turkey [ Photo by Andy Carvin / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Harran was a major ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia whose site is near the modern village of Altınbaşak, Turkey, 24 miles (44 kilometers) southeast of Şanlıurfa. The location is in a district of Şanlıurfa Province that is also named "Harran". However, those remaining today are strictly tourist exhibits, while most of Harran's population lives in a newly built small village about 2 kilometres away from the main site. In its prime Harran was a major Assyrian city which controlled the point where the road from Damascus joins the highway between Nineveh and Carchemish. This location gave Harran strategic value from an early date. Because Harran had an abundance of goods that passed through its region, it became a target for raids. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kahramanmaras, Trabzon Avenue [ Photo by Wiki akt / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kahramanmaraş is a city in southeastern Turkey and the administrative center of Kahramanmaraş Province. The city lies on a plain at the foot of the Taurus Mountains and has a population of 412.252 as of 2010. The region is best known for its production of salep, a flour made from dried orchid tubers, and its distinctive ice cream. It is connected by air to Istanbul and Ankara. Turkish Airlines has daily direct flights from İstanbul and also Anadolu Jet operates direct flights from Ankara. Kahramanmaraş was called Germanicia Caesarea (Γερμανίκεια, Germanikeia, in Greek) in the time of the Roman and Byzantine empires. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The old town of Mardin. [ Photo by Florian Koch / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Mardin (Ottoman Turkish: ماردين, Mardīn, Kurdish: Mêrdîn, Syriac: ܡܪܕܝܢ‎) is a city in southeastern Turkey. The capital of Mardin Province, it is known for its Arabic-like architecture, and for its strategic location on a rocky mountain overlooking the plains of northern Syria. The name of the city is derived from the Syriac-Aramaic word "ܡܪܕܐ" meaning fortress. Most Syriac Orthodox churches and monasteries in the city were built on ancient Assyrian-Babylonian temple sites and some are still active today. The Syriac Orthodox Saffron Monastery was founded in 439 AD and is one of the oldest monasteries in the world and the only one that is still functioning in southern Turkey. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Skyline of Urfa in South Eastern Turkey, as viewed from the ramparts of the Castle in a hill in the City Centre. [ Photo by Gerry Lynch / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Şanlıurfa,  , often simply known as Urfa in daily language (Arabic الرها al-Ruhā, Syriac ܐܘܪܗ Urhoy, Armenian Ուռհա Owr'ha), in ancient times Edessa, is a city with 482,323 inhabitants (2009 estimate) in south-eastern Turkey, and the capital of Şanlıurfa Province. Urfa is situated on a plain under big open skies, about eighty kilometres east of the Euphrates River. The climate features extremely hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The city has been known by many names in history: Ուռհա Owr'ha in Armenian, ܐܘܪܗܝ Urhai in Syriac, ره, الرها, al-Ruhā in Arabic, Ορρα, Orrha in Greek (also Ορροα, Orrhoa). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Hasankeyf, Turkey [ Photo by Areed145 / public domain ]

Hasankeyf (Kurdish: Heskîf, Greek: Kiphas, Turkish: Hasankeyf, Latin: Cepha, from Syriac: ܚܨܢ ܟܐܦܐ Ḥéṣn Kayfa) is an ancient town and district located along the Tigris River in the Batman Province in southeastern Turkey. It was declared a natural conservation area by Turkey in 1981. Predominantly Arab before, a steady and significant Kurdish immigration from surrounding villages in the last 20-30 years has shifted the ethnic balance. Kurdish people form the majority of the city center today. Hasankeyf is an ancient city, and has been identified with the Ilanṣura of the Mari Tablet (c. 1800 BC). The Romans had built the Cephe fortress on the site and the city became the Kiphas fortress and a bishopric under the Byzantine Empire. It was conquered by the Arabs, in ca. 640, renamed Hisn Kayf. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

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The city of Berat and the citadel on top of the hill. [ Photo by Joonas Lytinen / CC BY 2.0 ]

Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat. The old town (Mangalem district) was included on the World Heritage List in July 2008. Berat lies on the right bank of the river Osum, a short distance from the point where it is joined by the Molisht river. It has a wealth of beautiful buildings of high architectural and historical interest. The pine forests above the city, on the slopes of the towering Tomorr mountains, provide a backdrop of appropriate grandeur. The Osumi river has cut a 915-metre deep gorge through the limestone rock on the west side of the valley to form a precipitous natural fortress, around which the town was built on several river terraces. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Panorama of Graz, Austria from Schlossberg. [ Photo by Mfield, Matthew Field, http://www.photography.mattfield.com / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Grazis the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the federal state of Styria (Steiermark). On 1 April 2010 it had a population of 291,890 (of which 258,605 had principal residence status). In 1999, Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, and the site was extended in 2010 by Schloss Eggenberg. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003 and got the title of a City of Culinary Delights in 2008. Graz is situated on the Mur River in the southeast of Austria. It is about 200 km (120 mi) southwest of Vienna. The nearest larger urban center is Maribor in Slovenia which is about 50 km (31 mi) away. Graz is the capital and largest city in Styria, a green and heavily forested area. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Hallstatt. With Vorderer Hirlatz (1934m) and Dachstein mountain range [ Photo by pipimaru / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Hallstatt, Upper Austria is a village in the Salzkammergut, a region in Austria. It is located near the Hallstätter See (a lake). At the 2001 census it had 946 inhabitants. Alexander Scheutz has been mayor of Hallstatt since 2009. Hallstatt is a popular tourist attraction owing to its small-town appeal and can be toured on foot in ten minutes. Situated in the south-western shore of the Hallstätter See, the town lies in the geographical region of Salzkammergut, on the national road linking Salzburg and Graz. Salt was a valuable resource, so the region was historically very wealthy. It is possible to tour the world's first known salt mine, located above downtown Hallstatt. There are to date no recorded notable events that took place in Hallstatt during Roman rule or the early Middle Ages. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

showing the city of Salzburg from the top of the fortress. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

 Salzburg (Austro-Bavarian: Såizburg; literally: "Salt Castle") is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital city of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg is a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times. In addition to Mozart's birthplace noted above, other notable places include: The capital city of the State of Salzburg (Land Salzburg), the city has three universities. It has a large population of students who add liveliness and energy to the area, and the universities provide culture to the community. Independence from Bavaria was secured in the late 14th century. Salzburg was the seat of the Archbishopric of Salzburg, a prince-bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Spinolarei en Spiegelrei canals in Brugge; in the background the "Poortersloge" (burgher's lodge). Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium [ Photo by Richardfabi / public domain ]

Bruges (  in English; Dutch: Brugge,, French: Bruges,, German: Brügge,) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country. In the last half of the 19th century, Bruges became one of the world's first tourist destinations attracting wealthy British and French tourists.[clarification needed] Only in the second half of the 20th century has the city started to reclaim some of its past glory. The port of Zeebrugge was built in 1907. The Germans used it for their U-boats in World War I. It was greatly expanded in the 1970s and early 1980s and has become one of Europe's most important and modern ports. International tourism has boomed, and new efforts have resulted in Bruges being designated 'European Capital of Culture' in 2002. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Dinant (Belgium) [ Photo by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT / CC BY 2.0 ]

Dinantis a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur, Belgium. The Dinant municipality includes the old communes of Anseremme, Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, Dréhance, Falmagne, Falmignoul, Foy-Notre-Dame, Furfooz, Lisogne, Sorinnes, and Thynes. The Dinant area was already populated in Neolithic, Celtic, and Roman times. The first mention of Dinant as a settlement dates from the 7th century, a time at which Saint Perpete, bishop of Tongeren (with see now at Maastricht), took Dinant as his residence and founded the church of Saint Vincent. In 870, Charles the Bald gave part of Dinant to be administered by the Count of Namur, the other part by the bishop of Tongeren, then Liège. In the 11th century, the emperor Henry IV granted several rights over Dinant to the Prince-Bishop of Liège, including market and justice rights. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mostar – Old Town Panorama. The picture was taken from this minaret, which is just opposit the bridge looking on the same part of the river. [ Photo by Ramirez HUN / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country. Mostar was named after the bridge keepers (natively: mostari) who in the medieval times guarded the Stari Most (Old Bridge) over Neretva river. The Old Bridge is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. The city was a major industrial and tourist center and prospered economically during the time of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Stari Most bridge: 28 meters long and 20 meters high (90' by 64'), quickly became a wonder in its own time. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Nesebar, Bulgaria [ Photo by Elena Georgieva, http://www.imagesfrombulgaria.com/ / CC BY 2.5 ]

Nesebaris an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, located in Burgas Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Nesebar Municipality. Often referred to as the "Pearl of the Black Sea" and "Bulgaria's Dubrovnik", Nesebar is a rich city-museum defined by more than three millennia of ever-changing history. It is a one of the most prominent tourist destinations and seaports on the Black Sea, in what has become a popular area with several large resorts—the largest, Sunny Beach, is situated immediately to the north of Nesebar. Nesebar has on several occasions found itself on the frontier of a threatened empire, and as such it is a town with a rich history. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Dubrovnik from the aeroplane [ Photo by Michaelphillipr / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Dubrovnikis a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641 (census 2011). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Among the many tourist destinations are a few beaches. Banje, Dubrovnik's main public beach, is home to the Eastwest Beach Club. There is also Copacabana Beach, a small stony beach part of the Elaphiti Islands, named after the popular beach in Rio de Janeiro. For centuries, the Republic of Ragusa was an ally of Ancona, the other Adriatic maritime Republic rival of Venice, which was the Ottoman Empire's chief rival for control of the Adriatic. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Konnos beach in Protaras Paralimni Cyprus. [ Photo by NomilitaryinCyprus / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Paralimni (Greek: Παραλίμνι) is a town situated in the South East of Cyprus, a little way inland, within the Famagusta District. Since the Turkish invasion and occupation of the Republic of Cyprus in 1974, it has increased in size and status, due to the migration of many refugees fleeing from the North. Many of the people who work in the tourist industry of Protaras and Agia Napa live in Paralimni, which is the now temporary administrative centre of the Famagusta District and the biggest municipality of the Greek Cypriot controlled area of the district. It has become what it seems a small capital city of the non-occupied Famagusta area. Protaras (Greek: Πρωταράς), is a predominantly tourist resort. It comes under the administrative jurisdiction of Paralimni Municipality. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Olomouc (Olmütz) – panorama from Saint Maurice Church [ Photo by Pudelek (Marcin Szala) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Olomoucis a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic. The city has about 102,000 residents, but its larger urban zone has a population of about 480,000 people. Despite its considerable charms, Olomouc has not been discovered by tourists in the same way that Prague, Český Krumlov and Karlovy Vary have. Its inner city is the second-largest historical monuments preserve in the country, after Prague. During the 6th century the Slavs came to the area. As early as the 7th century, there was a centre of political power in the present-day quarter of Povel (situated in lowland, southerly from the city centre). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Picture of Arundel in West Sussex [ Photo by Anders Almaas / public domain ]

Arundel (  or local) is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies 49 miles (79 km) south southwest of London, 18 miles (29 km) west of Brighton, and 10 miles (16 km) east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to the southwest. The River Arun runs through the western side of the town. The town is famous for its historic castle and cathedral. Arundel was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Reform Act 1835. In 1974 it became part of the Arun district, and now is a civil parish with a town council. There are several theories about the meaning of the name 'Arundel'. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Roman Baths (Thermae) of Bath Spa, England. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bath (  or) is a city in the ceremonial county of Somerset in the south west of England. It is situated 97 miles (156 km) west of London and 13 miles (21 km) south-east of Bristol. The population of the city is 83,992. It was granted city status by Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1590, and was made a county borough in 1889 which gave it administrative independence from its county, Somerset. The city became part of Avon when that county was created in 1974. Since 1996, when Avon was abolished, Bath has been the principal centre of the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES). The city's attraction to tourists has also led to a significant number of jobs in tourism-related industries. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Guildford & Cathedral of Surrey [ Photo by Himar Santana Hernández / public domain ]

Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region. It is situated 27 miles (43 km) southwest of London on the A3 trunk road linking the capital to Portsmouth. During World War II, the Borough Council built 18 communal air raid shelters. One of these shelters, known as the Foxenden Quarry deep shelter, was built into the side of a disused chalk quarry. Taking a year to build, it comprised two main tunnels with interconnecting tunnels for the sleeping bunks. It could accommodate 1000 people and provided sanitation and first aid facilities. Having been sealed since decommissioning in 1944, it has survived fairly intact. The quarry itself is now the site of the York Road car park, but the shelter is preserved and open once a year to the public. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Main Street of Haworth [ Photo by Betty Longbottom / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Haworth is a rural village in the City of Bradford metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is located amongst the Pennines, 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Keighley and 10 miles (16 km) west of Bradford. The surrounding areas include Oakworth and Oxenhope. Nearby villages include Cross Roads, Stanbury and Lumbfoot. In Haworth itself there are tea rooms such as 'Cobbles and Clay the Art Cafe', souvenir and antiquarian bookshops, restaurants, pubs and hotels (including the Black Bull, where Branwell Brontë's decline into alcoholism and opium addiction allegedly began). Haworth is a good base for exploring the principal attractions of Brontë Country, while still being close to the major cities of Bradford and Leeds. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Settle, North Yorkshire, England from Castlebergh Viewpoint. [ Photo by John S Turner / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Settle is a small market town and civil parish within the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is served by the Settle railway station, which is located near the town centre, and Giggleswick railway station which is a mile away. It is 29 miles (47 km) from Leeds Bradford Airport. The main road running through Settle is the B6480, which links to the A65, connecting Settle to Skipton and Kendal. The town has a population of 2,421 according to the 2001 Census. Settle is thought to be of Anglian 7th century origins, its name being the Angle word for settlement. After the Harrying of the North between 1069 and 1071, the area was described in the Domesday Book as "waste". A market charter was granted to Henry de Percy (1228–1272) by Henry III in 1248. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

St Albans. View from Clock Tower [ Photo by Przemyslaw Sakrajda / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around 22 miles (35 km) north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt. Property prices are notoriously high within the district, which is one of the most expensive in the UK. The city today shows evidence of building and excavation from all periods of its history and is a tourist destination. Notable buildings include the Abbey and the early 15th century Clock Tower (pictured). The clock tower is one of only two similar towers in England; it is also the site of an Eleanor cross, which was pulled down in 1703, it had suffered years of neglect, and had been struck and badly damaged by a carriage, it was replaced by the town pump. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Main Road, Windermere. Main Road continues to the left, with Crescent Road coming in from the right. Orrest Head can just be seen on the skyline. [ Photo by Peter Trimming / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Windermere is a town and civil parish in the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England. It has a population of 8,245. It lies about half a mile (1 km) away from the lake, Windermere. Although the town Windermere does not touch the lake (it took the name of the lake when the railway line was built in 1847 and the station was called "Windermere"), it has now grown together with the older lakeside town of Bowness-on-Windermere, though the two retain distinguishable town centres. There are a number of museums, but the main attraction for the tourists is the lake itself that touches Bowness at the bottom of the hill (about a twenty minute walk from the top of Windermere town). Here there is a beautiful view of the mountains. Boats from the piers in Bowness sail around the lake, many calling at Ambleside or at Lakeside where there is a restored railway. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Bishop's castle in Kuressaare, Estonia [ Photo by Sabine Hack / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kuressaare (Finnish: Kuressaari, German: Arensburg) is a town and a municipality on Saaremaa island in Estonia. It is the capital of Saare County. The current population is about 14,706 (1. January 2011). Its historic name Arensburg (from Middle High German a(a)r: eagle, raptor) renders the Latin denotation arx aquilae for the city's castle. The fortress and the eagle, tetramorph symbol of Saint John the Evangelist, are also the depicted on Kuressaare's coat of arms. The name was replaced by Kuressaare (probably from Estonian kurg: crane) in 1918 after Estonia had declared its independence from Bolshevist Russia. Under Soviet rule the town from 1952 to 1988 was called Kingissepa after the Bolshevik Kuressaare-native Viktor Kingissepp killed in 1922 (not to be confused with the Russian town Kingisepp, formerly Jamburg). Kuressaare first appeared on maps around 1154. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Tallinn [ Photo by Jarek Jõepera / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of 159.2 km2 (61.5 sq mi) with a population of 416,144. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, 80 km (50 mi) south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is ranked as a global city and has been listed among the top 10 digital cities in the world. The city was a European Capital of Culture for 2011, along with Turku, Finland. Since its return to independence, improving air and sea transport links with Western Europe and Estonia's accession to the European Union have made Tallinn easily accessible to tourists. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Overlooking Tartu Town Hall from Toome Hill. [ Photo by Flying Saucer / CC BY 3.0 ]

Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the city is the centre of southern Estonia. The Emajõgi river, which connects the two largest lakes of Estonia, crosses Tartu. The city is served by Tartu Airport. Historical names of the town include Tarbatu, an Estonian fortress founded in the 5th century, Yuryev (Юрьев) named c. 1030 by Yaroslav I the Wise, and Dorpat as first known by the German crusaders in the 13th century. Archaeological evidence of the first permanent settlement on the site of modern Tartu dates to as early as the 5th century AD. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View of the Syvärauma marina in Rauma, Finland. [ Photo by Yumestarlet / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Raumais a town and municipality of ca. 39,700 (31 January 2011) inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, 92 kilometres (57 mi) north of Turku, and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Pori. Granted town privileges on May 17, 1442 (then under the rule of Sweden), Rauma is known of its high quality lace (since the 18th century), and of the old wooden architecture of its centre (Old Rauma, Vanha Rauma), which is a Unesco world heritage site. In the 14th century, before being declared as a town, Rauma had a Franciscan monastery and a Catholic church. In 1550, the townsmen of Rauma were ordered to relocate to Helsinki, but this was successfully countered and Rauma could continue its growth. Practically the whole wooden town of Rauma was devastated in the fires of 1640 and 1682. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Downtown Tampere, Finland from Pyynikki tower [ Photo by Visa580 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Tampere; Swedish: Tammerfors or) is a city in southern Finland. It is the most populous inland city in any of the Nordic countries. The city has a population of 213,344, growing to approximately 300,000 people in the conurbation and over 340,000 in the metropolitan area. Tampere is the third most-populous municipality in Finland, after the Greater Helsinki municipalities of Helsinki and Espoo. In 2007, the entire Pirkanmaa region had around 470,000 residents, of which 230,000 were employed, and a turnover of 25 billion euros. The main tourist attraction is the Särkänniemi amusement park, which includes a dolphinarium and the landmark Näsinneula tower, topped by a revolving restaurant. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Turku as seen from the tower of Turku Cathedral [ Photo by Markus Koljonen (Dilaudid) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Turku; Swedish: Åbo  ) is a city on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed to have been first settled around the end of the 13th century, making it the oldest city in Finland. It quickly became the most important city in Finland, a status it retained for hundreds of years. After Finland became part of the Russian Empire (1809), and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland was moved to Helsinki (1812), Turku continued to be the most populous city in Finland, until the end of the 1840s. Today it remains a regional capital and an important business and cultural center. As of 31 January 2011, Turku’s population was 177,430, making it the fifth largest city in Finland. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Old Town – Annecy [ Photo by Fraselpantz / CC BY 3.0 ]

Annecy is located between Geneva and Chambéry. Thus its history was strongly influenced by these two towns between the 10th and the 19th century. Starting as the capital of the county of Geneva, after the demise of the counts of Geneva, it became integrated into the House of Savoy's possessions in 1401. In 1444, it was set up by the Princes of Savoy as the capital of a region covering the possessions of the Genevois, Faucigny and Beaufortain. With the advance of Calvinism in 1535, it became a center for the Counter-Reformation and the bishop's see of Geneva was transferred here. During the French Revolution the Savoy region was conquered by France. Annecy became attached to the département of Mont Blanc, of which the capital was Chambéry. After the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, it was returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia (heir of the Duchy of Savoy). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Cité de Carcassonne, woman on wall [ Photo by Squelle / CC BY 3.0 ]

It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century, though the Romans had fortified the settlement earlier. The fortress, which was thoroughly restored in 1853 by the theorist and architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. The folk etymology – involving a châtelaine named Carcas, a ruse ending a siege and the joyous ringing of bells ("Carcas sona") – though memorialized in a neo-Gothic sculpture of Mme. Carcas on a column near the Narbonne Gate, is of modern invention. The name can be derived as a hyperbole of the name Carcas. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Old houses at the square next to the Koifhus in Colmar. [ Photo by Gryffindor / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

In 2006, the city of Colmar had a population of 65,713 and the metropolitan area of Colmar had a population of 120,367. Colmar is the center of the arrondissement of Colmar, which has 144,700 inhabitants in 2006. Mostly spared by the destructions of the French Revolution and the wars of 1870–1871, 1914–1918 and 1939–1945, the cityscape of old-town Colmar is homogenous and renowned among tourists. The area crossed by canals of the river Lauch, and which formerly served as the butcher's, tanner's and fishmonger's quarter, is now called "little Venice" (la Petite Venise). Colmar's cityscape (and neighbouring Riquewihr's) served for the design of the Japanese animated film Howl's Moving Castle. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Pont du Gard, taken from the North Bank at the level of the water course [ Photo by ChrisO / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Nîmes (Provençal Occitan: Nimes; French: , English: ) is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination. The city derives its name from that of a spring in the Roman village. The contemporary coat of arms of the city of Nîmes includes a crocodile chained to a palm tree with the inscription COLNEM, for Colonia Nemausus, meaning the 'colony' or 'settlement' of Nemausus, the local Celtic god of the Volcae Arecomici. Veterans of the Roman legions who had served Julius Caesar in his Nile campaigns, at the end of fifteen years of soldiering, were given plots of land to cultivate on the plain of Nîmes. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Saint Tropez, the church tower [ Photo by MartinPutz / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Saint-Tropezis a town, 104 km (65 mi) to the east of Marseille, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez. In latter years, it has been a resort for the European and American jet set and the inevitable hordes of tourists in search of a little Provençal authenticity and an occasional celebrity sighting. Saint-Tropez has had a varied history. It was a fifteenth-century military stronghold, an unassuming fishing village at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the first town on this coast to be liberated during World War II (as part of Operation Dragoon). The local nobleman had the privilege of raising a standing army, which drove away a fleet of Spanish galleons in 1637. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Bernkastel-Kues at the River Mosel in Germany [ Photo by Berthold Werner / public domain ]

Bernkastel-Kuesis a well-known winegrowing centre on the Middle Moselle in the Bernkastel-Wittlich district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The town is a state-recognized health resort (Erholungsort), seat of the Verbandsgemeinde of Bernkastel-Kues and birthplace of one of the most famous German polymaths, the mediaeval churchman and philosopher Nikolaus von Kues (Cusanus). The Graach Gate is an often visited tourist attraction. Above the constituent community of Bernkastel lie the Castle Landshut ruins, a former summer residence of the Archbishops of Trier that was destroyed by fire on 8 January 1692. It today serves as a popular lookout point over the Moselle valley. Also worth seeing is the only town gate that is still standing, the Graacher Tor (“Graach Gate”). The town lies in a transitional zone between temperate oceanic climate and continental climate. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mörfelden-Walldorf (Hesse), historic houses [ Photo by Thomas Pusch / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Mörfelden-Walldorf is situated within a triangle formed by the South Hessian cities of Frankfurt am Main, Darmstadt and Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt International Airport. Mörfelden-Walldorf borders in the north on the district-free city of Frankfurt am Main and the town of Neu-Isenburg (Offenbach district), in the east on the town of Langen and the community of Egelsbach (both in Offenbach district), in the south on the community of Erzhausen, the town of Weiterstadt (both in Darmstadt-Dieburg) and the community of Büttelborn, and in the west on the town of Groß-Gerau, the community of Nauheim and the town of Rüsselsheim. As its name suggests, Mörfelden-Walldorf consists of two constituent communities, named Mörfelden and Walldorf. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Regensburg [ Photo by Karsten Dörre (grizurgbg) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Regensburgis a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate. The large medieval centre of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first settlements in Regensburg date to the Stone Age. The Celtic name Radasbona was the oldest name given to a settlement near the present city. Around AD 90 the Romans built a fort there. In 179, the Roman fort Castra Regina ("fortress by the river Regen") was built for Legio III Italica during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

budapest hungary [ Photo by chensiyuan / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Budapest; names in other languages) is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter Area is home to 3,284,110 people. The city covers an area of 525 square kilometres (202.7 sq mi) within the city limits. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of west-bank Buda and Óbuda with east-bank Pest. The city attracts about 2.7 million tourists a year, making it the 37th most popular city in the world according to Euromonitor. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Pécs city: Széchenyi square (Hungary) [ Photo by uzo19 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Pécs; known by alternative names) is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county. Pécs is also the seat of Roman Catholic Diocese of Pécs. In 2010 Pécs has been selected to be the European Capital of Culture sharing the title together with Essen and Istanbul. The city's motto is: "The Borderless City". After the reception of the title major renewal started in the city. Renewed public places, streets, squares and neighbourhoods, new cultural centers, a concert hall, a new library and center and a cultural quarter were designed. Most of them are still under construction. The name Pécs appears in documents in 1235 in the word Pechyutmeans 5. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Castle in Tata city. East side. [ Photo by József Süveg / CC BY 2.5 ]

Tata is located in the valley between the Gerecse and Vértes Mountains, some 70 km (43 mi) from the Budapest, the capital. By the virtue of its location, the city is a railway and road junction. Motorway M1 (E60, E75) from Vienna to Budapest passes through the outer city limits, the railway line Budapest–Vienna go through the city. The first known mention of Tata is from 1221. Its castle was built by the Lackfi family and had its prime under Matthias I, who had it rebuilt in Renaissance style. In 1526 when the disastrous battle with the Turks happened and Louis II died in the battlefield, Count György Cseszneky was the chatelain of the Castle Tata. In the struggle for the throne of Hungary between Voivode John Zapolya and Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg, he supported Ferdinand's claim. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Patricks Bridge, Cork, Ireland [ Photo by Kglavin / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Corkis the second largest city in Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban areas contained in the county brings the total to 190,384. Metropolitan Cork has a population of approximately 274,000, while the Greater Cork area is about 380,000. Other popular tourist attractions include the grounds of University College Cork, through which the River Lee flows, and the English Market. This covered market traces its origins back to 1610, and the present building dates from 1786. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Dingle Ireland [ Photo by Riss Hamer0 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Dingle (Irish: An Daingean / Daingean Uí Chúis, meaning "Ó Cúis' fort") is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle Peninsula, it sits on the Atlantic coast, about 49 kilometres southwest of Tralee and 71 kilometres northwest of Killarney. There are many opportunities to hear traditional Irish music in the town, particularly during the summer tourist season. Dingle has a number of pubs as well as restaurants and cafes. There is also an aquarium in the town, and a number of art and craft shops. Connections with Spain were particularly strong, and in 1529 Thomas Fitzgerald, 11th Earl of Desmond and the ambassador of Charles V of Spain signed the Treaty of Dingle. Dingle was also a major embarkation port for pilgrims to travel to the shrine of Saint James at Santiago de Compostela. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas [ Photo by Kanchelskis / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Galwayor City of Galway (Cathair na Gaillimhe) is a city in County Galway, Ireland. It is the sixth largest[clarification needed] and the fastest-growing city on the island of Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the state and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay. The population of Galway's Borough area is 75,414 according to the 2011 census. A 2008 poll ranked Galway as the 42nd best tourist destination in the world, or 14th in Europe and 2nd in Ireland (behind Dingle). It was ranked ahead of all European capitals except Edinburgh, and many traditional tourist destinations (such as Venice). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View from the round tower at St. Canice's Cathedral to St. Mary's Cathedral. [ Photo by Andreas F. Borchert / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh, meaning "cell or church of Cainnech") is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland. The city is administered by a Borough Council and a Mayor which is a level below that of city council in the Local government of the state although the Local Government Act 2001 allows for "the continued use of the description city". The borough has a population of 8,661, however the majority of the population live outside the borough boundary, the 2006 Irish Census gives the total population of the Borough & Environs as 22,179. Kilkenny is a popular tourist destination in Ireland. In 2009 the City of Kilkenny celebrated its 400th year since the granting of city status in 1609. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mucross House, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland [ Photo by Kglavin / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Killarney (Irish: Cill Airne, meaning "church of sloes") is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St. Mary's Cathedral, Ross Castle, Muckross House and Abbey, Lakes of Killarney, Torc Waterfall and the Gap of Dunloe. Owing to its natural heritage, history and proximity to the Dingle Peninsula, Skellig Michael island and its location on the Ring of Kerry, Killarney is a popular tourist destination. Muckross Abbey was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans by Donal McCarthy Mor. The abbey was burned down by Cromwellian forces under General Ludlow in 1654, and today remains a ruin. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Waterford city at night Image of Waterford city at night taken from across the River Suir [ Photo by tony quilty / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Waterford (from Old Norse: Veðrafjǫrðr/Vedrafjord meaning "ram fjord" or "windy fjord"—Irish: Port Láirge meaning "Lárag's port") is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city. The population of the city in 2011 was 50,212; of which 46,747 lived within the city limits, and 3,465 lived in the suburbs in County Kilkenny.The metropolitan area figure is not official as it is including Tramore, Dunmore East, Passage East and Cheekpoint Today, Waterford is known for Waterford Crystal, a legacy of the city's former glass making industry. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Amalfi [ Photo by Sudodana2048 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Amalfi is a town and comune in the province of Salerno, in the region of Campania, Italy, on the Gulf of Salerno, c. 35 km southeast of Naples. It lies at the mouth of a deep ravine, at the foot of Monte Cerreto (1,315 meters, 4,314 feet), surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery. The town of Amalfi was the capital of the maritime republic known as the Duchy of Amalfi, an important trading power in the Mediterranean between 839 and around 1200. Amalfi is the main town of the coast on which it is located, named Costiera Amalfitana, and is today an important tourist destination together with other towns on the same coast, such as Positano, Ravello and others. Amalfi is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Basilica of St. Francis of Assissi [ Photo by Aaron Logan / CC BY 1.0 ]

It was the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208, and St. Clare (Chiara d'Offreducci), the founder of the Poor Sisters, which later became the Order of Poor Clares after her death. The 19th-century Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was also born in Assisi. Around 1000 BC a wave of immigrants settled in the upper Tiber valley as far as the Adriatic Sea, and also in the neighborhood of Assisi. These were the Umbrians, living in small fortified settlements on high ground. From 450 BC these settlements were gradually taken over by the Etruscans. The Romans took control of central Italy by the Battle of Sentinum in 295 BC. They built the flourishing municipium Asisium on a series of terraces on Monte Subasio. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Gubbio [ Photo by Danielac / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Gubbio is a town and comune in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia (Umbria). It is located on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino, a small mountain of the Apennines. See also Mount Ingino Christmas Tree. Gubbio became very powerful in the beginning of the Middle Ages. The town sent 1000 knights to fight in the First Crusade under the lead of count Girolamo Gabrielli, and according to an undocumented local tradition, they were the first to penetrate into the Holy Sepulchre when the city was seized (1099). The following centuries were quite turbulent, and Gubbio was engaged in wars against the surrounding towns of Umbria. One of these wars saw the miraculous intervention of its bishop, Saint Ubaldo Baldassini, who secured Gubbio an overwhelming victory (1151) and a period of prosperity. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Part of Positano, Italy. [ Photo by Jensens / public domain ]

Positano is a village and comune on the Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana), in Campania, Italy. The main part of the city sits in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast. It began to attract large numbers of tourists in the 1950s, especially after John Steinbeck published his essay about Positano in Harper's Bazaar in May, 1953: "Positano bites deep", Steinbeck wrote. "It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone." Positano was a port of the Amalfi Republic in medieval times, and prospered in the 16th and 17th centuries. But by the mid-19th century, the town had fallen on hard times. More than half the population emigrated, mostly to Australia. The church of Santa Maria Assunta features a dome made of majolica tiles as well as a 13th century Byzantine icon of a black Madonna. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Spiaggia di Tropea [ Photo by Belsito / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The town is a famous bathing place, situated on a reef, in the gulf of St. Euphemia connected with the mainland by a narrow strip in the Tyrrhenian Sea, toward the south with respect to Vibo Valentia and northward with respect to Ricadi and Capo Vaticano. Many villages around Tropea produce a particular quality of red onion. In Italy these onions are so famous that cipolla di Tropea ("Tropea onion" or "Tropea's onion") has become an Italian synonym for all red onions. One of the gelaterias in town, Tonino in the Corso, even makes a red onion ice cream (as well as others based on squid ink and nduja, the local spicy salami). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Quay at the IJssel river in the old city centre of Deventer, NL, with the Lebuinus Church tower [ Photo by Apdency / public domain ]

Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen (pop. 5,000) was merged with Deventer as part of a national effort to reduce bureaucracy in the country. Deventer was probably founded around 768 by the English missionary Lebuinus, who built a wooden church on the east bank of the river IJssel. This was not the first human settlement at the location; from the Bronze Age to about 400 AD, there was a settlement at Colmschate, 4 km east of the city centre. Remains of this settlement were excavated between 1981 and 2006. The village of Deventer, already important because of a trading road crossing the river IJssel, was looted and burnt down by the Vikings in 882. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Leeuwarden [ Photo by Magalhães / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Leeuwarden, Stadsfries: Liwwadden, Frisian: Ljouwert,  ) is the capital city of the Dutch province of Friesland. It is situated in the northern part of the country. The area has been occupied since the 10th century (although recently, remains of houses dating back to the 2nd century AD were discovered during a dig near the Oldehove), and was granted a town charter in 1435. Situated along the Middelzee, it was an active trade centre, until the waterway silted up in the 15th century. In 1901 the city had a population of 32,203. Famous natives of Leeuwarden include stadtholder William IV of Orange, graphic artist M. C. Escher, and dancer-spy Mata Hari, as well as the theologian Dr. N.H. Gootjes. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Oude Rijn, Leiden, Netherlands [ Photo by Erik Zachte / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Leiden) (in English and archaic Dutch also Leyden) is a city and municipality in the Dutch province of South Holland. The municipality of Leiden has a population of about 120,000, but the city forms one densely connected urban area with its suburbs Oegstgeest, Leiderdorp, Voorschoten, Valkenburg, Rijnsburg and Katwijk, which have about 254,000 inhabitants combined. The larger Leiden agglomeration counts 332,000 inhabitants which makes it the sixth major agglomeration in the Netherlands. Leiden is located on the Old Rhine, at a distance of some 20 kilometers from The Hague to its south and some 40 kilometers from Amsterdam to its north. The recreational area of the Kaag Lakes (Kagerplassen) lies just to the northeast of Leiden. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Tromsø [ Photo by Fjellheisen / CC BY-SA 2.0 DE ]

Tromsø; Northern Sami: Romsa; Kven: Tromssa) is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø. The area has been inhabited since the end of the ice age. In Tønsvika, just outside the city limits, there has been found traces of a settlement from late stone age (4000-1800 BCE). Arctic hunting, from Novaya Zemlya to Canada, started up around 1820. By 1850, Tromsø was the major center of Arctic hunting, overtaking the former center of Hammerfest, and the city was trading from Arkhangelsk to Bordeaux. The town grew increasingly important in other maritime economic activities also, the first shipyard was established in 1848. By the end of the 19th century, Tromsø had become a major Arctic trade center from which many Arctic expeditions originated. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The main post office in Bielsko-Biała (Poland). [ Photo by Lestath / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bielsko-Biała   (German: Bielitz-Biala; Czech: Bílsko-Bělá) is a city in southern Poland with 175,513 inhabitants (June 2009). Bielsko-Biała is composed of two former cities on opposite banks of the Biała River, Silesian Bielsko and Lesser Poland's Biała, amalgamated in 1951. After the partition of the Duchy of Oppeln in 1281, Bielsko passed to the Dukes of Cieszyn (Teschen). The town was first documented in 1312 when Duke Mieszko I of Cieszyn granted a town charter. The Biała again became a border river, when in 1315 the eastern Duchy of Oświęcim split off from Cieszyn as a separate under Mieszko's son Władysław. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Henryk Sienkiewicz Avenue in Częstochowa [ Photo by Frees / CC BY 3.0 ]

Częstochowa   is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants (June 2009). It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship (administrative division) since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship (1975–1998). However, Częstochowa is historically part of Lesser Poland, not of Silesia, and before 1795 (see: Partitions of Poland), it belonged to the Kraków Voivodeship. This, combined with the growing tourist movement, led to yet another period of fast city growth, concluded in 1975 with the creation of a separate Częstochowa Voivodeship. The town is known for the famous Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra, which is the home of the Black Madonna painting (Polish: Jasnogórski Cudowny obraz Najświętszej Maryi Panny Niepokalanie Poczętej), a shrine to the Virgin Mary. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Dzierżoniów [ Photo by Lzur / public domain ]

Dzierżoniów (German: Reichenbach or Reichenbach im Eulengebirge; former Polish: Rychbach) is a town in southwestern Poland. It is situated in Lower Silesian Voivodeship (from 1975–1998 it was in the former Wałbrzych Voivodeship). It is the seat of Dzierżoniów County, and of Gmina Dzierżoniów (although it is not part of the territory of the latter, since the town forms a separate urban gmina). Dzierżoniów covers an area of 20.1 km², and according to official figures for 2008 has a population of 34,396. It is named after Polish priest and scientist Jan Dzierżon. In its early history, the town was known as Reichenbach; composed of the German words reich (rich, strong) and Bach (stream), it refers to the current of the Piława River. The name was rendered in Polish as Rychbach. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Długie Pobrzeże Street in the Main Town of Gdańsk [ Photo by Nikater / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population of over 800,000. Gdańsk itself has a population of 455,830 (June 2010), making it the largest city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland. The Pomeranian Voivodeship, including Gdańsk, is also a major tourist destination in the summer months, as millions of Poles and European Union citizens flock to the beaches of the Baltic coastline. Gdańsk is Poland's principal seaport as well as the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is also historically the largest city of the Kashubian region. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Gothical bridge and church of St. Maria in Kłodzko (Lower Silesia, Poland). [ Photo by Lestat (Jan Mehlich) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kłodzko   (Czech: Kladsko; German: Glatz; Latin: Glacio) is a town in south-western Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. It is situated in the centre of the Kłodzko Valley, on the Nysa Kłodzka river. With 28,250 inhabitants (2006), Kłodzko is the main commercial centre as well as an important transport and tourist node for the area. For its historical monuments it is sometimes referred to as "Little Prague" (German: Klein-Prag). Culturally and traditionally a part of Bohemia, administratively it has been a part of Silesia since 1763. The area of present-day Kłodzko has been populated at least since the 1st century BC. There are several archaeological sites both in and around the town that indicate that there must have been a settlement located on the ancient Amber Road that conducted extensive trade relations with the Roman Empire. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Picture of the town square of Koronowo [ Photo by Michał Szałkowski / public domain ]

Koronowo (German:  Krone / Crone an der Brahe, archaic Polnisch Krone) is a town on the Brda River in Poland, located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, 25 km from Bydgoszcz, with 10,818 inhabitants (2004). It is located at N 53°19 – E 17°56 The town of Koronowo has an area of 2,818 ha and is one of the largest towns in Bydgoszcz County. The Koronowo municipality has an area of 41,170 ha and 23,052 inhabitants. The city's history began with the establishment of an abbey founded by German Cistercians, relocated from Byszewo in 1288. A significant battle took place nearby in 1410 between the Kingdom of Poland and the Teutonic Knights. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The post-war buildings of Malbork as seen from the Marienburg Castle high tower. [ Photo by Lestat (Jan Mehlich) / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Malbork   (German: Marienburg ; Lithuanian: Marienburgas; Latin: Civitas Beatae Virginis) is a town in northern Poland in the Żuławy region (Vistula delta), with 38,478 inhabitants (2006). Situated in the Pomeranian Voivodeship since 1999, it was previously assigned to Elbląg Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Malbork County. The town was built in Prussia around the fortress Ordensburg Marienburg which was founded in 1274 on the east bank of the river Nogat by the Teutonic Knights. Both the castle and the town (named Marienburg in German and in Polish as Malborg or Malbork) were named for their patron saint, the Virgin Mary. This fortified castle became the seat of the Teutonic Order and Europe's largest Gothic fortress. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sandomierz [ Photo by Dariusz Cierpiał (http://www.cierpial.cze.pl) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sandomierz) (German: Sandomir; Latin: Sandomiria ; Yiddish: Tsuzmir ; Russian: Сандомир ; Czech: Sandoměř) is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants (2006). Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Sandomierz County (since 1999). Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction. Administrative borders directly Tarnobrzeg. The name of the city comes from Old Polish Sędomir, composed of Sędzi- (from the verb sądzić "to judge") and mir ("peace"). Sandomierz is one of the oldest and historically most significant cities in Poland. Archeological finds around the city indicate that humans inhabited the area since neolithic times. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Fontanna w Sopocie [ Photo by Goku122 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sopot   (German: Zoppot ; Kashubian: Sopòt) is a seaside town in Eastern Pomerania on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea in northern Poland, with a population of approximately 40,000. Sopot is a major health-spa and tourist resort destination. It has the longest wooden pier in Europe, at 515.5 metres, stretching out into the Bay of Gdańsk. The city is also famous for its Sopot International Song Festival, the largest such event in Europe after the Eurovision Song Contest. Among its other attractions is a fountain of bromide spring water, known as the "inhalation mushroom". The spa for the citizens of Gdańsk has been active since the 16th century. Until the end of that century most noble and magnate families from Gdańsk built their manor housees in Sopot. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Zamość – City Hall and Main Square [ Photo by Maciej Ukleja / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Zamość () is a town in southeastern Poland with 66,633 inhabitants (2004), situated in the south-western part of Lublin Voivodeship (since 1999), about 90 km (55.92 mi) from Lublin, 247 km (153.48 mi) from Warsaw and 60 km (37.28 mi) from the border with Ukraine. About 20 kilometres from the town is the Roztocze National Park. As a result of the merger of the fortress and the main city and thanks to the terrain, the fortress had a shape of irregular heptagon, consisting of 7 curtains and 7 bastions placed in the bends. Jan Zamoyski, the founder and owner of the city, paid a lot of attention to the defense functions of the city. In the founding document, he pledged to consolidate the city with ramparts and a moat. The city was founded in the areas that used to be threatened or attacked by the Tatars. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Cascais beach [ Photo by Osvaldo Gago / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Cascaisis a coastal town in Cascais Municipality in Portugal, 30 kilometres west of Lisbon, with about 35,000 residents. It is a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal family in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Nowadays, it is a popular vacation spot for both Portuguese and foreign tourists. It is located in the Estoril Coast (named after Estoril, a civil parish), in the Greater Lisbon subregion. It has an airport for general aviation serving the Lisbon Region in Tires (S. Domingos de Rana), Aeroporto Municipal de Cascais. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Beach, Ericeira, Portugal [ Photo by Husond / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ericeirais a fishing and seaside resort town on the west coast of Portugal, in the municipality of Mafra, about 35 km north-west of the centre of Lisbon. Its name originates from Ouriceira, which derives from Ouriço, the Portuguese name for a sea urchin, as seen on the coat of arms. It also has a surf school to local athletes and tourists who want to learn how to surf. The Ribeira d'Ilhas Beach, which routinely hosts a round of the ASP World Tour Surf Championship and is widely-regarded as one of the best beaches in Europe for the practice of this sport, is located 2 km to the north of the town. In 2011 Ericeira was chosen by the WSR to one of the four World Surfing Reserves together with Malibu and Santa Cruz in California and Manly Beach in Australia. Ericeira is also keen on its musical culture. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

St.Anton’s Church, Giraldo Square, Évora, Portugal [ Photo by Milan.sk / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Due to its well-preserved old town centre, still partially enclosed by medieval walls, and a large number of monuments dating from various historical periods, including a Roman Temple, Évora is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network. Évora is ranked number two in the Portuguese most livable cities survey of living conditions published yearly by Expresso. It was ranked first in a study concerning competitiveness of the 18 Portuguese district capitals, according to a 2006 study made by Minho University economic researchers. Évora is located in the Alentejo, a large region of wide plains on the south of Portugal, borderd on the North by the Tagus River and on the South by the region of Algarve. The city is relatively close from the capital city Lisbon, 140 km and other 80 km to the Spanish border with Badajoz. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Part of the parish of Angústias, Horta, including the marina, looking north toward Esplamaca, Angústias, Horta, Faial (Azores), Portugal [ Photo by Jameslwoodward / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Hortais a single municipality and city in the western part of the Archipealgo of the Azores, encompassing the island of Faial. Horta has a population of about approximately 15,038 people (2011 census) and an area of 173.1 square kilometers. The population density is about 88 persons per square kilometer. The city of Horta itself has a population of about 7,000. In addition, the prosperity of the early 20th century, concentrated on the transatlantic traffic, has developed into a tourist-oriented economy concentrated on the architecture, geographic, leisure and socio-cultural aspects of the island. This includes sightseeing tours and whale-watching expeditions that depart from the city, the arrival of semi-weekly cruise ships during the summer and cultural festivals that unite the local parishes and visitors throughout the year. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View of portuguese village Marvão from castle. Burning forest on the left-top. [ Photo by Krzysztof Żwirski / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Marvão is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 154.9 km² and a total population of 3,739 inhabitants. The municipality is composed of 4 parishes, and is located in Portalegre District. The present Mayor is Vitor Martins Frutuoso, elected by the Social Democratic Party. The municipal holiday is September 8. Its name is derived from an ancient local Muslim chieftain, named Ibn Marwan. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Nazaré, Portugal [ Photo by Markus Bernet / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Nazaréis a town in Nazaré Municipality in Portugal with a total area of 82,4 km² and a total population of 14,904 inhabitants. It is in subregion Oeste and Leiria district. It has become a popular tourist attraction, advertising itself, internationally, as a picturesque seaside village. Located on the Atlantic coast, it has long sandy beaches (considered by some to be among the best beaches of Portugal), crowded with tourists in the summer. The town used to be known for its traditional costumes worn by the fishermen and their wives who worn the traditional headscarf and embroidered aprons over seven flannel skirts in different colours. These dresses can still occasionally be seen. The town consists of three sections: Praia (along the beach), Sítio (an old village, on top of a cliff) and Pederneira (an old village, on a hilltop). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Óbidos [ Photo by Paulo Juntas / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Óbidosis a town (Portuguese: vila) of approximately 3100 inhabitants and municipal seat of the municipality of Óbidos, located in the Oeste Subregion, of the Estremadura historical province, in Portugal. The name "Óbidos" probably derives from the Latin term oppidum, meaning "citadel", or "fortified city". Roman occupation of the area was confirmed by archaeological excavations, revealing the existence of a Roman city civitas near the hilltop on which the village and castle were established. This Roman settlement is most certainly the mysterious Eburobrittium, cited by Pliny the Elder as situated between Collipo (near present-day Leiria) and Olisipo (Lisbon). Archeological surveys determined the remains of a forum, baths and other Roman structures near the settlement. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sintra's Catle [ Photo by Lacobrigo / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sintrais a town within the municipality of Sintra in the Grande Lisboa subregion (Lisbon Region) of Portugal. Owing to its 19th century Romantic architecture and landscapes, becoming a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon. In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are dotted by royal retreats, estates, castles and buildings from the 8th-9th century, in addition to many buildings completed between the 15th and 19th century, including the Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace, resulting in its classification by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Center of the city Viana do Castelo, capital of District of Viana do Castelo, Portugal [ Photo by Osvaldo Gago - fotografar.net / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Viana do Castelois a municipality and seat of the Viana do Castelo District in the Norte Region of Portugal. The city proper has 36,148 (INE, 2001) inhabitants and the municipality has a total population of 91,238 inhabitants (2006) over a total area of 318.6 km². King Afonso III of Portugal founded the town in 1253 in the name of Viana. In the 16th century, its port gained great importance as one of the main ports from which Portuguese explorers set sail, due to the discoveries. The most remarkable buildings in the town are from this era. Its traditional folklore is among the richest in the country. The city has a seaport with naval repairing facilities. Its major industry is naval construction and its shipyard is the only one still working in Portugal. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

A panorama shot of the city of Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia [ Photo by PMK1 / public domain ]

Ohrid (Macedonian: Охрид  ) is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has been referred to as a "Jerusalem". The city is rich in picturesque houses and monuments, and tourism is predominant. It is located southwest of Skopje, west of Resen and Bitola, close to the border with Albania. In 1979 and in 1980, Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In fact, Ohrid is one of only 28 sites that are part of UNESCO's World Heritage that are both Cultural and Natural sites. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Landscape of Barót from Ágostonfalva village [ Photo by Márkó Laci / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Baraoltis a town and administrative district in Covasna County, Romania. It lies in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania. The town was mentioned for the first time as a settlement in 1224. It administers five villages: According to the 2002 Census, Baraolt has a population of 9,670 and an absolute Székely Hungarian majority (9,271 (95.87%) Hungarians, 300 (3.1%) Romanians, 84 Roma, 15 others). Approximately 47.9% of the town's inhabitants adhere to the Hungarian Reformed Church, while 29.9% follow Roman Catholicism, 16.8% consider themselves Unitarians and 2.6% are Romanian Orthodox. The town has one high school and a provincial hospital with 82 beds. The hospital's specialties include internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynecology, and paediatrics; it also has an accident and emergency service. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The city of Brașov seen from Tâmpa [ Photo by AndreiNicusan / CC BY 3.0 ]

Brașov; German: Kronstadt; Hungarian: Brassó, Hungarian : ; Medieval Latin: Brassovia or Corona; 1950–1960: Orașul Stalin) is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County. Poiana Brașov is the most popular Romanian ski resort and an important tourist center preferred by many tourists from other European states. From 1950 to 1960, during part of the Communist period in Romania, the city was called Orașul Stalin (Stalin City), after the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. German colonists known as the Transylvanian Saxons played a decisive role in Brașov's development. These Germans were invited by King Géza II of Hungary to develop towns, build mines, and cultivate the land of Transylvania at different stages between 1141 and 1162. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Odorheiu Secuiesc [ Photo by Maksim / public domain ]

Odorheiu Secuiescis the second-largest city in Harghita County, Transylvania, Romania. In its short form, it is also known as Odorhei in Romanian and Udvarhely in Hungarian. The Hungarian name of the town "Udvarhely" means "courtyard place" in English. The city has a population of 36,948, of which 95.7% or 35,359 people are ethnic Hungarians, making it the city with the second-highest proportion of Hungarians in Romania. The city is also home to communities of ethnic Romanians (2.91%) and Roma (1.16%). Half the population of the town professes Roman Catholicism (50.05%), while the remaining half is primarily divided between Hungarian Reformed (30.14%), Unitarian (14.71%), and Romanian Orthodox (2.54%) communities. The town, as the former seat of the Udvarhely comitatus, is one of the historical centres of the Székely Land. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Piata Mica in Sibiu, Romania [ Photo by Amorphisman / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sibiuis a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt. Nowadays the capital of Sibiu County, between 1692 and 1791 Sibiu was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania. This was the most important cultural event that has ever happened in the city, and a great number of tourists came, both domestic and foreign. The first official record referring to the Sibiu area comes from 1191, when Pope Celestine III confirmed the existence of the free prepositure of the German settlers in Transylvania, the prepositure having its headquarters in Sibiu, named Cibinium at that time. It was probably built near a Roman settlement, one that would be known during the early Middle Ages as Caedonia. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sighișoara [ Photo by Ovuigner / public domain ]

Sighişoarais a city and municipality on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş County, Romania. Located in the historic region Transylvania, Sighişoara has a population of 27,706 (2011). Sighişoara is a popular tourist destination, due to its well-preserved walled old town. The landmark of the city is the Clock Tower, a 64m high tower built in the 13th century. It is today a museum of history. During the 12th century, German craftsmen and merchants known as the Transylvanian Saxons were invited to Transylvania by the King of Hungary to settle and defend the frontier of his realm. The chronicler Krauss lists a Saxon settlement in present-day Sighiṣoara by 1191. A document of 1280 records a town built on the site of a Roman fort as Castrum Sex or "six-sided camp", referring to the fort's shape of an irregular hexagon. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View from Calton Hill to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Scotish Academy. Right the Walter Cott Monument. [ Photo by Christian Bickel / CC BY-SA 2.0 DE ]

Edinburgh (; Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Èideann) is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a 30 square miles (78 km2) rural area. Located in the south-east of Scotland, Edinburgh lies on the east coast of the Central Belt, along the Firth of Forth, near the North Sea. Edinburgh attracts over 1 million overseas visitors a year, making it the most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London. The first evidence of the existence of the town as a separate entity from the fort lies in an early 12th century royal charter, generally thought to date from 1124, by King David I granting land to the Church of the Holy Rood of Edinburgh. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

A view towards the town centre in November [ Photo by Alexford / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Royal Burgh of North Berwick is a seaside town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately 25 miles east of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holiday resort in the 19th century because of its two sandy bays, the East (or Milsey) Bay and the West Bay, and continues to attract holiday makers to this day. Golf courses at the ends of each bay are open to visitors. The name North Berwick means North 'barley farmstead'. Bere in Old English means 'barley' and wic in Old English is 'farmstead'. The word North was applied to distinguish this Berwick from Berwick-upon-Tweed, which throughout the Middle Ages the Scots called South Berwick. It was recorded as Northberwyk in 1250. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Subotica Town center, with former building of National Theatre [ Photo by Viktorija Aladžić / CC BY 3.0 ]

Subotica (Serbian Cyrillic: Суботица  , Hungarian: Szabadka, Bunjevac: Subotica, Croatian: Subotica) is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. It is located at 46.07° North, 19.68° East, about 10 km from the border with Hungary. Tourism is significantly important to the city due to Palić and the Palić Lake being near by, which is by itself a tourist destination. In the past few years, Palić has been famous for the Palić Film Festival. Formerly the largest city of Vojvodina region, contemporary Subotica is now the second largest city in the province, following Novi Sad. It is also the fifth largest city in Serbia (discounting Kosovo) after Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Kragujevac. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Banská Štiavnica [ Photo by Bojars / public domain ]

Banská Štiavnica; German: Schemnitz, Hungarian: Selmecbánya – often the short form is used: Selmec; Turkish: Şelmec Ban'a) is a town in central Slovakia, in the middle of an immense caldera created by the collapse of an ancient volcano. For its size, the caldera is known as Štiavnica Mountains. Banská Štiavnica has a population of more than 10,000. It is a completely preserved medieval town. Because of their historical value, the town and its surroundings were proclaimed by the UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993. The fate of Banská Štiavnica has been closely linked to the exploitation of its abundant resources of silver ore. According to evidence from excavations, the site was settled during the Neolithic period. The first mining settlement was founded by Huns in the 3rd century BC. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Košice [ Photo by Of / public domain ]

Košice, German: Kaschau, Hungarian: Kassa) is a city in eastern Slovakia. It is situated on the river Hornád at the eastern reaches of the Slovak Ore Mountains, near the border with Hungary. With a population of approximately 240,000, Košice is the second largest city in Slovakia after the capital Bratislava. The first evidence of inhabitance can be traced back to the end of the Paleolithic era. The first written reference to the Hungarian town of Košice (as the royal village – Villa Cassa) comes from 1230. After the Mongol invasion in 1241, King Béla IV of Hungary invited German colonists to fill the gaps in population. The significance and wealth of the city in the end of the 14th century was mirrored by the decision to build a completely new church on the grounds of the previously destroyed smaller St. Elisabeth Church. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Levoča, Slovakia. Town hall and St. James church [ Photo by Pudelek / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Levoča; Hungarian: Lőcse, German: Leutschau, Polish: Lewocza) is a town in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia with a population of 14,600. The town has a historic center with a well preserved town wall, a Renaissance church with the highest wooden altar in World, carved by Master Paul of Levoča, and many other Renaissance buildings. Levoča is located in the historical region of Spiš (formerly Szepes), which was inhabited as early as the Stone Age. In the 11th century, this region was conquered and, subsequently, became part of the Kingdom of Hungary and remained such until 1918. After the Mongol invasions of 1241/1242, the area was also settled by Germans. The town became the capital of the Association of Spiš Germans, with a form of self-rule within the Kingdom of Hungary. The oldest written reference to the city of Levoča dates back to 1249. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Bled island, Slovenia [ Photo by Sl-Ziga / public domain ]

Bled (German: Veldes) is a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area, within the Julian Alps, is a popular tourist destination. Bled is known for the glacial Lake Bled, which makes it a major tourist attraction. Perched on a rock overlooking the lake is the iconic Bled Castle. The town is also known in Slovenia for its vanilla-and-cream pastry called kremna rezina ("cream slice") or kremšnita (from German Cremeschnitte). A settlement area since Mesolithic times, Bled was first mentioned as Ueldes (Veldes) within the March of Carniola on April 10, 1004, when it was awarded by Emperor Henry II to Bishop Albuin I of Brixen. Bled Castle was first mentioned in a 22 May 1011 deed in which Henry II donated it to Albuin's successor, Bishop Adalberon of Brixen. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Puerto de la Coruña [ Photo by Marrovi / CC BY-SA 2.5 MX ]

A Coruña (Galician: ) or La Coruña (Spanish: ) (still sometimes known as Corunna in English, and archaically as The Groyne) is a city and municipality of Galicia, Spain. It is the second-largest city in the autonomous community and seventeenth overall in the country. The city is the provincial capital of the province of the same name, having also served as political capital of the Kingdom of Galicia from the XVIth to the XIXth centuries, and as a regional administrative centre between 1833 and 1982, before being replaced by Santiago de Compostela. Following a spectacular oil spill when the Aegean Sea wrecked and exploded, considerable resources have been used in the recovery of the shoreline and strengthening the tourist sector. All this has reaffirmed the city's existing character as a centre for administration, sales, port activities, culture and tourism. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Old Town of Cáceres [ Photo by Elemaki / CC BY 3.0 ]

Cáceresis the capital of the same name province, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. As of 2009[update], its population was 91,131 inhabitants. The municipio has a land area of 1,750.33 km², and is the second largest in geographical extension in Spain. There have been settlements near Cáceres since prehistoric times. Evidence of this can be found in the caves of Maltravieso and El Conejar. The city was founded by the Romans in 25 BC. The old town (Ciudad Monumental) still has its ancient walls; this part of town is also well known for its multitude of storks' nests. The walls contain a medieval town setting with no outward signs of modernity, which is why many films have been shot there. The Universidad de Extremadura, and two astronomical observatories are situated in Cáceres. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

shown place is the central place of cazorla, called "The Egg" (El Huevo) [ Photo by Takeshi Nakagawa / public domain ]

Cazorla lies at an elevation of 836 metres on the western slope of the Sierra de Cazorla. It is the entry point and base for visits to the Natural Park of Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, a vast protected area of magnificent river gorges and forests. Spain's second longest river, the Guadalquivir, has its source in the mountains to the south of the settlement. Summers are cooler than the low-lying plains to the west and the town fills with tourists during the summer months. The town is constructed around three main squares, the Plaza de la Constitución, the Plaza de la Corredera (or de Huevo, "of the Egg", because of its shape), and the Plaza Santa Maria. This last square is the oldest and is connected to the other two by narrow, twisting streets. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View from Balcon de Europe in Nerja, Spain [ Photo by Oscarthecat / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Nerja is a municipality on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, southern Spain. It is on the country's southern Mediterranean coast, about 50 km east of Málaga. Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous Nerja caves, discovered in 1959. These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of potholes stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and Granada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe. Visitors to the caves will be able to view the remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja. The Romans built here three settlements, including Detunda, of which now large remains can be seen. The area was later taken over by the Arabs in the early 8th century. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Santiago de Compostela [ Photo by Froaringus / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James. In 1985 the city's Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral borders the main plaza of the old and well-preserved city. Legend has it that the remains of the apostle James were brought to Galicia for burial. In 813, according to medieval legend, the light of a bright star guided a shepherd who was watching his flock at night to the burial site in Santiago de Compostela. The shepherd quickly reported his discovery to the bishop of Iria, Bishop Teodomiro. The bishop declared that the remains were those of the apostle James and immediately notified King Alfonso II in Oviedo. To honor St. James, the cathedral was built on the spot where his remains were said to have been found. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ansicht von Sitges / vista de Sitges [ Photo by Werner Lang / Wela49 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sitgesis a Spanish town about 35 kilometres southwest of Barcelona, renowned worldwide for its Film Festival and Carnival. Located between the Garraf Massif and the sea, it is known for its beaches, nightspots, and historical sites. While the roots of Sitges' artsy reputation date back to the late 19th century, when Catalan painter Santiago Rusiñol took up residence there during the summer, the town in became a centre for the 1960s counterculture in mainland Spain, then still under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco), and became known as "Ibiza in miniature". Nowadays it is a popular destination for gay and lesbian travellers, as it has become one of the most gay-friendly places in the world. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Karlstad Town Hall [ Photo by Jan Ainali / CC BY 3.0 ]

Karlstad is a city, the seat of Karlstad Municipality, the capital of Värmland County, and the largest city in the province Värmland in Sweden. The city had 61,685 inhabitants in 2010 out of a municipal total that during the first quarter 2010 was 84,885 inhabitants. Karlstad has a university and a cathedral. Karlstad is often associated with sunshine and the symbol for Karlstad is a happy sun. Karlstad is reputed to be one of the sunniest towns in Sweden and a local waitress, known as "Sola i Karlstad" (the Sun in Karlstad) for her sunny disposition, is also commemorated with a statue. On Karlstad's largest islet, there was a place of counsel called Tingvalla in the medieval age, which had roots from the Viking Age before 1000 AD. It was also used as a market place. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Central Kiruna photograped from Luossavaara [ Photo by Johan Arvelius / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kiruna (Northern Sami: Giron, Finnish: Kiiruna) is the northernmost city in Sweden, situated in the province of Lapland. It had 18,148 inhabitants in 2010 and is the seat of Kiruna Municipality (pop. 23,099 in 2008) in Norrbotten County. Although some tourists already came to the area in the 19th century, the completion of the railway line truly made tourism possible. Tourists came for the rivers and the mountains, but also geologists and entire classes of students came to see the mine. Additionally, a yearly winter sports festival was started, which attracted people from a wide area. The Sami population was already a tourist attraction in the early days of Kiruna's existence. Gustaf Broms proposed to name the settlements Kiruna, a short and practical name that could also be by Swedish speaking inhabitants. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Adelgatan i Lund [ Photo by Pluskvam / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Lund) is a city in the province of Skåne, southern Sweden. The town has 82,800 inhabitants in 2011, out of a municipal total of 110,824. It is the seat of Lund Municipality, Skåne County. The city is believed to have been founded around 990, when Skåne belonged to Denmark. It soon became a major Christian center of the Baltic Sea region, at a time when the area was still a frontier area for Christian mission, and within Scandinavia and especially Denmark through the Middle Ages. From 1103 it was the seat of an archbishop. At the center of the city stands the towering Lund Cathedral, built ca 1090-1145. In 1658, the Scanian lands were ceded by Denmark to Sweden by the Treaty of Roskilde. On December 4, 1676 Lund was defended in the Battle of Lund, one of the bloodiest battles fought in Scandinavia. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Almedalen. A park in central Visby near the seafront. [ Photo by Żeglarz / public domain ]

Visby is a locality and the seat of Gotland Municipality in Gotland County, Sweden with 22,236 inhabitants, as of 2005. It is the only locality with historical city status on the island of Gotland; it is arguably the best-preserved medieval city in Scandinavia and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the most notable historical remains are the 3.4 km (2.1 mi) long stone wall called Ringmuren ("the Ring Wall"), that encircles the city and the old church ruins. In August, the tourist season is at its peak. In week 32 from Sunday to Sunday, the annual Medieval Week (Medeltidsveckan) is held. During this time regularly dressed tourists are outnumbered by people dressed in Medieval costumes. The festival started in 1984. There are a variety of events: music, jesters, theater, a medieval market, jousting tournaments and much more. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Fribourg, Switzerland [ Photo by Norbert Aepli, Switzerland / CC BY 2.5 ]

Fribourg (Arpitan: Fribôrg/Friboua, IPA:  ; German: Freiburg or Freiburg im Üechtland; Italian: Friburgo or Friborgo) is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland (Romandy). Its Old City, one of the best maintained in Switzerland, sits on a small rocky hill above the valley of the Sarine. The current bus network is now operated by the Transports publics fribourgeois, with connections to Bulle, Avenches, Schmitten, Schwarzenburg and in the tourist region Schwarzsee. After the city was released from the sphere of influence of Savoy, it attained the status of Free Imperial City in 1478. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Interlaken, Abendberg, and Lake Thun viewed from the Schynige Platte Railway, Switzerland [ Photo by Andrew Bossi / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland. Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland, and it remains one of the most popular. Interlaken is located between Lake Brienz to the east and Lake Thun to the west in the area called Bödeli. The town takes its name from its geographical position between the lakes (in Latin inter lacus). The Aare River flows through the town connecting the lakes. Interlaken has an area, as of 2009[update], of 4.4 km2 (1.7 sq mi). Of this area, 1.05 km2 (0.41 sq mi) or 24.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.97 km2 (0.37 sq mi) or 22.6% is forested. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Eigenes Bild vom Ort Ischgl [ Photo by Joho345 / public domain ]

Ischgl (1377m) is a small village (population: 1489 in 2001) in the Paznaun Valley in Tyrol (Austria). Its ski resort Silvretta Arena Ischgl-Samnaun is connected with the ski resort of Samnaun across the border in Switzerland. Together this ski area belongs to the largest skiing resorts in the Alps. Its 238 km of groomed pistes are served by over 40 mechanical lifts including cable cars, gondolas, detachable chair lifts and some T-bars. Ischgl is well-known (and sometimes criticized) for its lively après-ski parties and roistering nightlife. The resort became famous when it began regularly hosting pop concerts celebrating the end of the annual ski season (Top of the Mountain Concert) at the Idalp (2300m). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The north part of Spiez [ Photo by Highest Heights / public domain ]

Spiez has an area of 16.8 km2 (6.5 sq mi). Of this area, 38.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 29.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 29.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (3.3%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains). It is located at the south bank of Lake Thun. It comprises five villages (Bäuerte): Spiez, Einigen, Hondrich, Faulensee and Spiezwiler (formerly Wyler). Spiez has a population (as of 31 December 2010) of 12,475. As of 2007[update], 7.4% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has grown at a rate of 6.8%. Most of the population (as of 2000[update]) speaks German (94.0%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common (1.1%) and French being third (0.8%). In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SVP which received 32.9% of the vote. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Zermatt [ Photo by Schnäggli / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants. Until the mid-19th century, it was predominantly an agricultural community; the first and tragic ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 was followed by a rush on the mountains surrounding the village, leading to the construction of many tourist facilities. The year round population (as of December 2010[update]) is 5,720, though there may be several times as many tourists in town at any one time. Much of the local economy is based on tourism, with about half of the jobs in town in hotels or restaurants and just under half of all apartments are vacation apartments. Just over one-third of the permanent population was born in the village, while another third moved to Zermatt from outside Switzerland. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Downtown Lviv (Ukraine). [ Photo by Lestat (Jan Mehlich) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Lvivis a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following Holocaust and Polish population transfers (1944–1946). The historical heart of Lviv with its old buildings and cobblestone roads has survived World War II and ensuing Soviet presence largely unscathed. The city has many industries and institutions of higher education such as the Lviv University and the Lviv Polytechnic. Lviv is also a home to many world-class cultural institutions, including a philharmonic orchestra and the famous Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The historic city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Portmeirion. View of the central plaza [ Photo by MichaelMaggs / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Portmeirion is a popular tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust. Portmeirion is today a top tourist attraction in North Wales and day visits can be made on payment of an admission charge. Despite repeated claims that it was based on the town of Portofino, Italy, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion's designer, denied this, stating only that he wanted to pay tribute to the atmosphere of the Mediterranean. He did, however, draw from a love of the Italian village stating, "How should I not have fallen for Portofino? Indeed its image remained with me as an almost perfect example of the man-made adornment and use of an exquisite site…" Williams-Ellis designed and constructed the village between 1925 and 1975. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

North America

Quebec City and the Chateau Frontenac, view from Lévis, Canada [ Photo by Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Quebec (or ; French: Québec  ), also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City (French: Ville de Québec) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about 233 kilometres (145 mi) to the southwest. As of the 2006 Canadian Census, the city has a population of 491,142, and the metropolitan area has a population of 715,515. The Citadelle is still in use by the military and is also a tourist attraction. The narrowing of the Saint Lawrence River approximate to the city's promontory, Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond), and Lévis, on the opposite bank, provided the name given to the city, Kébec, an Algonquin word meaning "where the river narrows". (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

South America

Potosi with Cerro Rico [ Photo by Gerd Breitenbach / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Potosí is a city and the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is one of the highest cities in the world by elevation at a nominal 4,090 metres (13,420 ft). and it was the location of the Spanish colonial mint, now the National Mint of Bolivia. Potosí lies beneath the Cerro de Potosí—sometimes referred to as the Cerro Rico ("rich mountain")—a mountain popularly conceived of as being "made of" silver ore, which has always dominated the city. The Cerro Rico is the reason for Potosí's historical importance, since it was the major supply of silver for Spain during the period of the New World Spanish Empire. This silver was taken by llama and mule train to the Spanish Main from where it was then taken to Spain on the Spanish treasure fleets. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Historic City of Sucre, Bolivia [ Photo by Skykid 123ve / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sucre, also known historically as Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca (population 247,300 in 2006) is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and the capital of the department of Chuquisaca. Located in the south-central part of the country, Sucre lies at an elevation of 2750m (9,000 ft). This relatively high altitude gives the city a cool temperate climate year-round. The city attracts thousands of tourists every year thanks to its well-conserved downtown with buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nestled at the foot of the twin hills of Churuquella and Sika Sika, Sucre is the gateway to numerous small villages that date from the colonial era, the most well-known of which is Tarabuco, home of the colorful "Pujllay" festival held each March. Most of these villagers are members of one of the indigenous ethnicities. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Praça Tiradentes, view from the old School of Mines. Ouro Preto, state of Minas Gerais, Brasil [ Photo by Alvesgaspar / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Ouro Preto (from Portuguese, Black Gold) is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, a former colonial mining town located in the Serra do Espinhaço mountains and designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its outstanding Baroque architecture. 18th- and 19th-century churches decorated with gold and the sculptured works of Aleijadinho make Ouro Preto a prime tourist destination. Founded at the end of the 17th century, Ouro Preto (meaning Black Gold) was originally called Vila Rica, or "rich village," the focal point of the gold rush and Brazil's golden age in the 18th century under Portuguese rule. The tremendous wealth from gold mining in the 18th century created a city which attracted the intelligentsia of Europe. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View over harbor area and Old Customs House in Salvador, Bahia state, Brazil. [ Photo by Adam Jones / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The Historic Centre (known in Brazilian Portuguese as The Pelourinho) is a historic neighborhood located in the western zone of Salvador, Bahia. It was the city's center during the Portuguese Colonial Period, and was named for the whipping post (Pelourinho means Pillory) in its central plaza where African slaves received punishment for various infractions, as well as for disciplinary purposes. In the 1990s, a major restoration effort resulted in making the area a highly desirable tourist attraction. The Historic Centre of Salvador da Bahia, frequently called the Pelourinho, is extremely rich in historical monuments dating from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Salvador was the first colonial capital of Brazil and the city is one of the oldest in the New World (founded in 1549 by Portuguese settlers). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Central Square, Cusco, Peru [ Photo by Sascha Grabow www.saschagrabow.com / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Cuzco; Quechua: Qusqu and Qosqo  ) is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cuzco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago. Located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cuzco, its altitude is around 3,400 m (11,200 ft). It is a major tourist destination and receives almost 1.5 million visitors a year. It is designated as the Historical Capital of Peru by the Constitution of Peru. The city fell to the sphere of Huáscar in the division of the empire after the death of Huayna Capac in 1527. It was captured by the generals of Atahualpa in April 1532 in the Battle of Quipaipan. Nineteen months later, Spanish explorers invaded the city (see battle of Cuzco). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Central America & Caribbean

Cathedrals are often at the centre of a town. Cathedral of St. Christopher of Havana, Cuba is on a busy square. Cathedral of Havana. San Cristóbal Cathedral. The Cathedral of Saint Christopher in Havana. [ Photo by Krasivaja / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Havana (Spanish: La Habana, Spanish : , is the capital city, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city is one of the 15 Cuban provinces. The city/province has 2.1 million inhabitants, the largest city in Cuba and the second largest in the Caribbean region, after Santo Domingo. The city extends mostly westward and southward from the bay, which is entered through a narrow inlet and which divides into three main harbours: Marimelena, Guanabacoa, and Atarés. The sluggish Almendares River traverses the city from south to north, entering the Straits of Florida a few miles west of the bay. Numerous luxury hotels, casinos and nightclubs were constructed during the 1930s to serve Havana's burgeoning tourist industry, strongly rivaling Miami. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Historic Town of Guanajuato [ Photo by Anders Lagerås / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Guanajuato is a city and municipality in central Mexico and the capital of the state of the same name. It is located in a narrow valley, which makes the streets of the city narrow and winding. Most are alleys that cars cannot pass through, and some are long sets of stairs up the mountainsides. Many of the city’s thoroughfares are partially or fully underground. The historic center of the city is filled with colonial area mansions, churches and civil constructions built with pink or green sandstone and small plazas. The city was the result of the discovery of mines in the mountains that surround it. These mines were so rich that the city was one of the most influential during the colonial period. One of the mines, La Valenciana, accounted for two-thirds of the world’s silver production at its height. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Europe

The Grazer Rathaus (City Hall of Graz) in Austria. [ Photo by Tamirhassan / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Grazis the second-largest city in Austria after Vienna and the capital of the federal state of Styria. On 1 April 2010 it had a population of 291,890 (of which 258,605 had principal residence status). Graz has a long tradition as a student city: its six universities have more than 44,000 students. Its "Old Town" is one of the best-preserved city centres in Central Europe. In 1999, Graz was added to the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage Sites, and the site was extended in 2010 by Schloss Eggenberg. Graz was sole Cultural Capital of Europe for 2003 and got the title of a City of Culinary Delights in 2008. Graz is situated on the Mur River in the southeast of Austria. It is about 200 km (120 mi) southwest of Vienna. The nearest larger urban center is Maribor in Slovenia which is about 50 km (31 mi) away. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The city of Salzburg, view from the top of the fortress. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Salzburg (Austro-Bavarian: Såizburg; literally: "Salt Castle") is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital city of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg is a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times. In addition to Mozart's birthplace noted above, other notable places include: Salzburg's "Old Town" (Altstadt) has internationally renowned baroque architecture and one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. The Life of Saint Rupert credits the 8th-century saint with the city's rebirth. When Theodo of Bavaria asked Rupert to become bishop c. 700, Rupert reconnoitered the river for the site of his basilica. Rupert chose Juvavum, ordained priests, and annexed the manor Piding. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Naturhistorisches Museum at Maria-Theresa-Square [ Photo by Doko Ing. Mgr. Jozef Kotulič / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Vienna (; German: Wien ;) is the capital of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.7 million (2.4 million within the metropolitan area, more than 25% of Austria's population), and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 10th-largest city by population in the European Union. Vienna is host to many major international organizations, such as the United Nations and OPEC. Many concert venues offer concerts aimed at tourists, featuring popular highlights of Viennese music (particularly the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Strauss). Vienna lies in the east of Austria and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. These regions work together in a European Centrope border region. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Guildhalls on the Grand Place [ Photo by Ben2 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Brussels; Dutch: Brussel,  ), officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region (French: Région de Bruxelles-Capitale, Dutch: Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest), is the de facto capital of Belgium and of the European Union (EU). It is also the largest urban area in Belgium, comprising 19 municipalities, including the municipality of the City of Brussels, which is the de jure capital of Belgium, in addition to the seat of the French Community of Belgium and of the Flemish Community. Numerous friteries are spread throughout the city, and in tourist areas, fresh, hot, waffles are also sold on the street. Since the end of the Second World War, Brussels has been a main center for international politics. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Street in Old Town Plovdiv, Bulgaria [ Photo by Jeroen Kransen / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Plovdiv (Bulgarian: Пловдив) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria with a population of 331,796. According to the latest census of 2011, Plovdiv Municipality occupies the second place after the municipality of Sofia. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC. A number of respectable sources name Plovdiv as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city. It is the administrative center of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria and three municipalities (Plovdiv, Maritsa and Rodopi) and Bulgaria's Yuzhen tsentralen planning region (NUTS II), as well as the largest and most important city in Northern Thrace and the wider international historical region of Thrace. The city is an important economic, transport, cultural and educational center. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

view of Prague as viewed from Petřín Lookout Tower. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Prague) is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million. The city has a temperate oceanic climate with warm summers and chilly winters. Its rich history makes it a popular tourist destination, and the city receives more than 4.1 million international visitors annually, as of 2009[update]. Prague is classified as a global city. During the thousand years of its existence, the city grew from a settlement stretching from Prague Castle in the north to the fort of Vyšehrad in the south, becoming the multicultural capital of a modern European state, the Czech Republic, a member state of the European Union. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Tower Bridge as viewed from the North-East near St Katherine Dock. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

London () is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures.[note 1] London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 17th century the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area,[note 2] governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly. The West End is London's main entertainment and shopping district, attracting tourists. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Place Vendôme, Paris. [ Photo by Dimitri Destugues / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Paris (; French:  ) is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region (or Paris Region, French: Région parisienne). The city of Paris, within its administrative limits largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,193,031 (January 2007), but the Paris metropolitan area has a population of 11,836,970 (January 2007), and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe. With about 42 million tourists per year (28 in city proper of which 17 million are foreign visitors), Paris is the most visited city in the world. The city and its region contain 3,800 historical monuments and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Paris' inhabitants are known in English as "Parisians" and in French as Parisiens ( ). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Normandie, France. City Hall and Church of St. Ouen. [ Photo by Tango7174 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Rouenis the historic capital city of Normandy, in northern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) region. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe, Rouen was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages. It was one of the capitals of the Anglo-Norman dynasties, which ruled both England and large parts of modern France from the 11th to the 15th centuries. It was in Rouen where Joan of Arc was burnt in 1431. People from Rouen are called Rouennais. The population of the metropolitan area (in French: agglomération) at the 1999 census was 518,316 inhabitants and 532,559 inhabitants at the 2007 estimate. The city proper had an estimated population of 110,276 in 2007. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sunrise above the snow-covered city centre of Bonn, Germany. [ Photo by Matthias Zepper / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999. Starting in 1998, many national government institutions were moved from Bonn to Berlin. Both houses of the German national parliament, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, were moved along with the Chancellery and the residence of the President of Germany. Bonn remains a centre of politics and administration, however. Roughly half of all government jobs were retained as many government departments remained in Bonn and numerous sub-ministerial level government agencies relocated to the former capital from Berlin and other parts of Germany. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Reconstruction (1981–1984) of six houses at the east side of the Römerberg that were destroyed in World War II [ Photo by Mylius / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Frankfurt am Main, English: ), commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2009 population of 672,000. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,295,000 in 2010. The city is at the centre of the larger Frankfurt/Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region which has a population of 5,600,000 and is Germany's second largest metropolitan area. The Frankfurter Messe (Frankfurt Trade Fair) was first mentioned in 1150. In 1240, Emperor Friedrich II granted an Imperial privilege to its visitors, meaning they would be protected by the Empire. The fair became particularly important when similar fairs in French Beaucaire lost attraction around 1380. Book trade fairs have been held in Frankfurt since 1478. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View of Heidelberg with the Heidelberg Castle on hill and the Old Bridge over river Neckar [ Photo by Christian Bienia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Heidelberg is a German city situated in the south-west of the country. The fifth largest city of the German State of Baden-Württemberg after Stuttgart, Mannheim, Karlsruhe and Freiburg im Breisgau, Heidelberg is part of a densely populated region known as the Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region. As of 2009, over 145,000 people live within the city's area. Heidelberg lies on the River Neckar in a steep valley in the Odenwald. Heidelberg is also a popular tourist destination due to its romantic and picturesque cityscape's character, including the Heidelberg Castle and the baroque style Old Town. The US Army has had a military base in Heidelberg since 1951. Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, the "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Castle, St. Sebald, City Hall, Old Town, Nuremberg, Germany [ Photo by Johannes Kerstiens, Pirkheimer / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg, not to be confused with Nürburg) is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about 170 kilometres north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population (as of January 2006) is 500,132. The urban area of Nuremberg has 1.2 million inhabitants. In 1349 the members of the guilds unsuccessfully rebelled against the patricians in the Handwerkeraufstand (English: Craftsmen's Uprising), supported by merchants and some councillors, leading to a ban on any self-organisation of the artisans in the city, abolishing the guilds that were customary elsewhere in Europe; the unions were then dissolved, and the oligarchs remained in power while Nuremberg was a free city. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The porch of the Caryatids at the Erechtheum. [ Photo by Harrieta171 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Athens (; Modern Greek: Αθήνα, Athína, IPA: , Katharevousa: Ἀθῆναι, Athine, Ancient Greek: Ἀθῆναι, Athēnai), is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica periphery and it is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state. A centre for the arts, learning and philosophy, home of Plato's Academy and Aristotle's Lyceum, it is widely referred to as the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy, largely due to the impact of its cultural and political achievements during the 5th and 4th centuries BC on the rest of the then known European continent. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The theatre, seen from above [ Photo by Leonidtsvetkov / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

In Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Python, a deity who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. Python (derived from the verb pythein, "to rot") is claimed by some to be the original name of the site in recognition of the Python that Apollo defeated. The Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo recalled that the ancient name of this site had been Krisa. Three of the Doric columns have been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs. The name Delphoi comes from the same root as δελφύς delphys, "womb" and may indicate archaic veneration of Gaia, Grandmother Earth, and the Earth Goddess at the site. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Taken from the dome of St Peter's in Vatican City in Rome. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Vatican City, which translates as State of the Vatican City, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800. The Vatican City State budget includes the Vatican museums and post office and is supported financially by the sale of stamps, coins, medals and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by publications sales. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome. Other industries include printing, the production of mosaics, and the manufacture of staff uniforms. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Budapest castle by night. [ Photo by uzo19 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Budapest; names in other languages) is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2010, Budapest had 1,721,556 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 because of the mass suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter Area is home to 3,271,110 people. The city covers an area of 525 square kilometres (202.7 sq mi) within the city limits. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of west-bank Buda and Óbuda with east-bank Pest. The city attracts about 2.3 million tourists a year. In 1949, Hungary was declared a communist People's Republic. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Piazza Signoria [ Photo by Jrousso / public domain ]

Florence (Italian: Firenze  , alternate obsolete form: Fiorenza; Latin: Florentia) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with c. 370,000 inhabitants (1,500,000 in the metropolitan area). The historic centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Florence is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and the impact of its artistic, historic and cultural heritage in the world remains to this day. The city has a major impact in music, architecture, education, cuisine, fashion, philosophy, science and religion. The historic centre of Florence contains numerous historical squares, Renaissance palaces, academies, parks, gardens, churches, monasteries, museums, art galleries and ateliers. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Colosseum [ Photo by Julo / CC BY-SA 2.5 PL ]

Rome; Latin: Rōma) is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in 1,285.3 km2 (496.3 sq mi). The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy. In 2007 Rome was the 11th-most-visited city in the world, 3rd most visited in the European Union, and the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. The city is one of Europe's and the world's most successful city "brands", both in terms of reputation and assets. Its historic centre is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Piazza del Campo in Siena [ Photo by Massimo Catarinella / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008. Siena is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice yearly. The Palio is not simply a tourist event as a true Sienese regards this in an almost tribal way, with passions and rivalry similar to that found at a football 'Derby' match. In fact the Sienese are baptised twice, once in church and a second time in their own Contrade fountain. This loyalty is maintained through a Contrade 'social club' and regular events and charitable works. Indeed the night before the Palio the city is a mass of closed roads as each Contrade organises its own outdoor banquet, often for numbers in excess of 1,000 diners. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Rialto Bridge over Venice's Grand Canal. [ Photo by W. Lloyd MacKenzie / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Venice (Italian: Venezia  , Venetian: Venexia) is a city in northern Italy known both for tourism and for industry, and is the capital of the region Veneto, with a population of the whole Comune of about 270,660 (census estimate 30 April 2009). Together with Padua and Treviso, the city is included in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area (PATREVE) (population 1,600,000). Venice is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, due to the city's being one of the world's greatest and most beautiful cities of art. The city has an average of 50,000 tourists a day (2007 estimate). In 2006, it was the world's 28th most internationally visited city, with 2.927 million international arrivals that year. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ausros Vartu street, Vilnius, Lithuania [ Photo by Wojsyl / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Vilnius ( , see also other names) is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 (850,324 together with Vilnius County) as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County. The first known written record of Vilnius as the Lithuanian capital is know form Gediminas' letters in 1323. Gediminas expanded the Grand Duchy through warfare along with strategic alliances and marriages. At its height it covered the territory of modern-day Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Transnistria, and portions of modern-day Poland and Russia. His grandchildren Vytautas the Great and Jogaila, however, fought civil wars. During the Lithuanian Civil War of 1389–1392, Vytautas besieged and razed the city in an attempt to wrest control from Jogaila. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View from Skansen in Bergen, Norway [ Photo by Aqwis / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bergen) is the second largest city in Norway with a population of 262,300 as of July 8, 2011. Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of 386,100 as of July 8, 2011. The hotels in the city may be full at times, due to the increasing number of tourists and conferences. Prior to the Rolling Stones concert in September 2006, many hotels were already fully-booked several months in advance. Bergen is recognised as the unofficial capital of the region known as Western Norway, and recognised and marketed as the gateway city to the world famous fjords of Norway and for that reason it has become Norway's largest – and one of Europe's largest – cruise ship ports of call. Bergen is located in the county of Hordaland on the south-western coast of Norway. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kraków (Poland), Market square seen from tower of St. Mary church: Cloth Hall, Town Hall tower and St. Adalbert church. [ Photo by Pko / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Kraków) also Krakow, or Cracow (English), is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła) in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic centres. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596; the capital of the Grand Duchy of Kraków from 1846 to 1918; and the capital of Kraków Voivodeship from the 14th century to 1999. It is now the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It is a major attraction for both local and international tourists, attracting seven million visitors a year. Major landmarks include the Main Market Square with St. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Taken from the Novatel Warsaw Centrum in Poland. [ Photo by Bpa / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa  ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River roughly 260 kilometres (160 mi) from the Baltic Sea and 300 kilometres (190 mi) from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population as of June 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855, and the Warsaw metropolitan area at approximately 2,631,902. The area of the city covers 516.9 square kilometres (199.6 sq mi), while the city's agglomeration covers 6,100.43 square kilometres (2,355.39 sq mi) (Warsaw Metro Area – Obszar Metropolitalny Warszawy). Warsaw is the 9th largest city in the European Union by population. Its interiors and park are accessible to tourists. Stanisław August Poniatowski, who remodelled the interior of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, also made Warsaw a centre of culture and the arts. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View of Alfama from the Miradouro of Santa Luzia in Lisbon, Portugal [ Photo by Miguel Vieira / CC BY 2.0 ]

Lisbonis the capital city and largest city of Portugal, with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of 84.8 km2 (33 sq mi). The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on a area of 958 km2 (370 sq mi), it is the 9th most populous urban area in the European Union. About 2,831,000 people live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (which represents approximately 27% of the population of the country). Lisbon is the westernmost large city located in Europe, as well as its westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast. It lies in the western Iberian Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. The city is the seventh-most-visited city in Southern Europe, after Istanbul, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Athens, and Milan, with 1,740,000 tourists in 2009. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Historical part of Porto, a World Heritage Site seen from Vila Nova de Gaia, trough the Douro river. [ Photo by Olegivvit / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Porto, also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits (an area of 41.66 km²/16 sq.mi) includes a population of 220,000 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes. The urbanized area of Porto, which extends beyond the administrative limits of the city, has a population of 1.1 million in an area of 389 km2 (150 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. The Porto Metropolitan Area includes approximately 1.3 million people, and is recognized as a Gamma-level global city by the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group, being one of the four cities in the peninsula with global city status (the others being Madrid, Lisbon and Barcelona). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Town Hall Square in Bardejov, Slovakia [ Photo by Hynek Moravec / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Bardejov; German: Bartfeld, Hungarian: Bártfa, Polish: Bardejów) is a town in North-Eastern Slovakia. It is situated in the Šariš region and has about 33,000 inhabitants. The spa town, mentioned for the first time in 1241, exhibits numerous cultural monuments in its completely intact medieval town center. The town is one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The name of the town comes from the Hungarian word "bárd" (English: "chopper"), which indicated an amount of forested territory which could be chopped down by one man in one day. In the Hungarian name (Bártfa), the "fa" (English: "tree") suffix came later, and it also changed the last letter of "bárd" to "bárt", for easier. The territory of present-day Bardejov has attracted settlers since the Stone Age. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Sagrada Familia viewed from Casa Milà, Barcelona, Spain [ Photo by Bernard Gagnon / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Barcelona (Catalan: , Spanish: ) is the capital and the most populous city of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of 101.4 km2 (39 sq mi). The urban area of Barcelona extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of between 4,200,000 and 4,500,000 on an area of 803 km2 (310 sq mi), being the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, London, Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan. About five million people live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. It is also Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast. It is the main component of a union of adjacent cities and municipalities, with a population of 3,218,071 in an area of 636 km² (density 5,060 hab/km²). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Co-catedral de Santa María. [ Photo by Jörn Wendland / public domain ]

Cáceres is the capital of the same name province, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. As of 2009[update], its population was 91,131 inhabitants. The municipio has a land area of 1,750.33 km², and is the largest in geographical extension in Spain. There have been settlements near Cáceres since prehistoric times. Evidence of this can be found in the caves of Maltravieso and El Conejar. The city was founded by the Romans in 25 BC. The old town (Ciudad Monumental) still has its ancient walls; this part of town is also well known for its multitude of storks' nests. The walls contain a medieval town setting with no outward signs of modernity, which is why many films have been shot there. The Universidad de Extremadura, and two astronomical observatories are situated in Cáceres. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Aqueduct in Segovia, Spain [ Photo by Manuel González Olaechea y Franco / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Segovia is a city in Spain, the capital of Segovia Province in the autonomous community of Castile and Leon. It is situated north of Madrid, 30 minutes by high speed train. The municipality counts some 55,500 inhabitants. The name of Segovia is of celtiberian origin. The first inhabitants named the city Segobriga. This name comes from two terms of celtiberian origin, language of the celtic indo-european branch. Comes from the term Sego, which means «victory» (prefix also present in other cities such as Segeda and Segontia) and the suffix -briga, which would mean «city» or «strength». So it might be translated as "City of the victory" or "Victorious city". Segovia was first recorded as a Celtic possession, with control eventually transferring into the hands of the Romans. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Toledo Skyline in Spain at sunrise. [ Photo by DAVID ILIFF / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Toledois a municipality located in central Spain, 70 km south of Madrid. It is the capital of the province of Toledo. It is also the capital of autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive cultural and monumental heritage as one of the former capitals of the Visigothic Kingdom and the Spanish Empire. Many famous people and artists were born or lived in Toledo, including Al-Zarqali, Garcilaso de la Vega, Eleanor of Toledo, Alfonso X and El Greco. It was also the place of important historic events such as the Visigothic Councils of Toledo. As of 2009[update], the city has a population of 82,291 and an area of 232.1 km2 (89.59 square miles). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

An aerial photo of Bern. [ Photo by Benutzer:Amstuzmarco / public domain ]

The city of Bern or Berne; French: Berne ; Italian: Berna ; Romansh: Berna ; Bernese German: Bärn) is the Bundesstadt (federal city, de facto capital) of Switzerland, and, with (as of December 2009) a population of 131,000, the fourth most populous city in Switzerland. The Bern agglomeration, which includes 43 municipalities, has a population of 349,000. The metropolitan area had a population of 660,000 in 2000. Bern is also the capital of the Canton of Bern, the second most populous of Switzerland's cantons. The etymology of the name Bern is uncertain. According to the local legend, based on folk etymology, Berchtold V, Duke of Zähringen, the founder of the city of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on the hunt, and this turned out to be a bear. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Africa

The streets of Islamic Cairo, adorned by Islamic architecture, are narrower and older than those in the city centre [ Photo by Joonas Plaan / CC BY 2.0 ]

Cairo (; Arabic: القاهرة‎ al-Qāhira; French: Le Caire, literally "The Vanquisher" or "The Conqueror") is the capital of Egypt, the largest city in Africa and the 16th most populated metropolitan area in the world. The English and French names for the city ("Cairo", and "Le Caire" respectively) are corruptions of its Arabic name "Al-Qahira". Egyptians today often informally refer to Cairo as Maṣr (Arabic: مصر‎), the vernacular Egyptian of Misr, the name for Egypt itself, emphasizing the city's continued central importance in the country. Cairo has the oldest and largest film and music industries in the Arab World, as well as the world's second-oldest institution of higher learning, al-Azhar University. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Great Mosque of Djenné [ Photo by Andy Gilham / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Djenné (also Djénné, Jenné and Jenne) is an Urban Commune and town in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. In the 2009 census the commune had a population of 32,944. Administratively it is part of the Mopti Region. Most tourists visit the Monday market and spend only one night in one of the 5 hotels/guest houses. In 2007 the town received around 15,000 visitors of whom 4,200 stayed overnight. Of these just over a third were from France with the remainder coming from a large number of other countries. In 2005 tourism contributed around 450 million CFA francs (687,000 Euro) to the economy of the town. The weather is hot and dry throughout much of the year. Average daily maximum temperatures in the hottest months, April and May, are around 40 °C. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ruines fes maroc [ Photo by Zimaal / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Fes or Fez (Arabic: فاس‎ Fās, French: Fès) is the second largest city of Morocco, following Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million (2010). It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region. Fes is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination and many non-Moroccans are now restoring traditional houses (riads and dars) as second homes in the Fes medina. The most important monuments in the city are: Fes, the former capital, is one of the country's four "imperial cities," the others being Rabat, Marrakech and Meknes. It comprises three distinct parts, Fes el Bali (the old, walled city), Fes-Jdid (new Fes, home of the Mellah) and the Ville Nouvelle (the French-created, newest section of Fes). Fes el Bali is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Djemaa el Fna square at sunset. [ Photo by NikoSilver / public domain ]

Marrakech or Marrakesh, known as the "Red City", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history. The city of Marrakesh is the capital of the mid-southwestern economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, being also the 2nd largest city in Morocco. Like many North African cities, the city of Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz) for a total population of 1,070,000. It is served by Ménara International Airport (IATE code: RAK) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north. Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Paesaggio di Meknes, Marocco; Landscape from Meknes [ Photo by Dardorosso / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Meknes (Arabic: مكناس‎, Berber: Meknas or Ameknas, French: Meknès, Spanish: Mequinez) is a city in northern Morocco, located 130 kilometres (81 mi) from the capital Rabat and 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Fes. It is served by the A2 expressway between those two cities and by the corresponding railway. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727), before it was relocated to Marrakech. The population is 985,000 (2010 census). It is the capital of the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Meknes is named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa (native Berber name: Imeknasen) in the medieval North African sources. The original community from which Meknes can be traced was an 8th century Kasbah. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Kano view from Dala Hill [ Photo by Shiraz Chakera / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area (LGAs) – Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa – with a population of 2,163,225 at the 2006 Nigerian census. The Metropolitan Area covers 499 sq.km and comprises eight LGAs – the six mentioned above plus Ungogo and Kumbotso – with a population of 2,828,861 at the 2006 Nigerian census. Muhammad Rumfa ascended to the throne in 1463 and reigned until 1499. During his reign, he reformed the city, expanded the Sahelian Gidan Rumfa (Emir's Palace), and played a role in the further Islamization of the city, as he urged prominent residents to convert. The Kano Chronicle attributes a total of twelve "innovations" to Rumfa. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Ancient cemetery and the Great Mosque. [ Photo by utilisateur:Douya / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Kairouan (Arabic القيروان) (also known as Kirwan, Al Qayrawan), is the capital of the Kairouan Governorate in Tunisia. Referred to as the Islamic Cultural Capital, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city was founded by the Arabs around 670. In the period of Caliph Mu'awiya (reigned 661-680), it became an important centre for Islamic and Quranic learning, and thus attracting a large number of Muslims from various parts of the world, next only to Mecca and Medina. The holy Mosque of Uqba is situated in the city. It is considered by many Muslims to be Islam's fourth holiest city. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Grand Mosque of Sousse, as seen from the tower of the Ribat [ Photo by BishkekRocks / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Sousse (Arabic: سوسة Sūsa‎, Berber: Susa) is a city in Tunisia. Located 140 km south of the capital Tunis, the city has 173,047 inhabitants (2004). Sousse is in the central-east of the country, on the Gulf of Hammamet, which is a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The name may be of Berber origin: similar names are found in Libya and in the south of Morocco (Bilād al-Sūs). The city is the capital of Sousse Governorate with 540,000 inhabitants (2005 estimate). Its economy is based on transport equipment, processed food, olive oil, textiles and tourism. It is home to the Université de Sousse. Sousse is an important tourist resort. Hotel complexes with a capacity of 40,000 beds extend 20 km from the old city (Medina) north along the seafront to Port El Kantaoui. The fine sandy beaches are backed by orchards and olive groves. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Thermes of Antoninus Pius, Carthage [ Photo by BishkekRocks / public domain ]

Tunis (Arabic: تونس‎, Tūnis) is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants. The medina is found at the centre of the city: a dense agglomeration of alleys and covered passages, full of intense scents and colours, boisterous and active trade, and a surfeit of goods on offer ranging from leather to plastic, tin to the finest filigree, tourist souvenirs to the works of tiny crafts shops. In April 1655 the English admiral Robert Blake was sent to the Mediterranean to extract compensation from states that had been attacking English shipping. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Asia

Chongsheng Temple in Dali, Yunnan, China. [ Photo by Doctoroftcm / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Dali City (Chinese: 大理市; pinyin: Dàlǐ shì; Bai: Darl•lit; Hani: Dafli) is a county-level city in and the seat of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, northwestern Yunnan province of Southwest China. Dali is one of Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations, both for its historic sites and the "Foreigners' Street" that features western-style food, music, and English-speaking business owners, making it popular among both western and Chinese tourists. Dali is the ancient capital of both the Bai kingdom Nanzhao, which flourished in the area during the 8th and 9th centuries, and the Kingdom of Dali, which reigned from 937-1253. Situated in a once significantly Muslim part of South China, Dali was also the center of the Panthay Rebellion against the reigning imperial Qing Dynasty from 1856-1863. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Old Town of Lijiang, China [ Photo by Loewe / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Lijiang (simplified Chinese: 丽江市; traditional Chinese: 麗江市; pinyin: Lìjiāng Shì) is a prefecture-level city in the northwest of Yunnan Province, China. It has an area of 21,219 square kilometres (8,193 sq mi) and a population of 1,137,600 as of 2005. Lijiang City replaced former administrative region Lijiang Prefecture. Lijiang Prefecture no longer exists today. It was under the rule of the Mu family (木氏) local commanders (土司) during the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. Lijiang City is located in the northwestern portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan. It is in a region where the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau converge. Owing to its low latitude and high elevation, the city centre of Lijiang experiences a mild subtropical highland climate (Koppen Cwb). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Wall of Ping Yao city, Shanxi, China 平遙城牆，中國山西。 [ Photo by Peellden / public domain ]

Pingyao (Chinese: 平遥; pinyin: Píngyáo) is a Chinese city and county in central Shanxi province, China. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. During the Qing Dynasty, Pingyao was a financial center of China. It is now renowned for its well-preserved ancient city wall, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the tourist high-season, the amount of visitors to the city can reach up to 3 times its maximum capacity per day. Pingyao still retains its city layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties, conforming to a typical bagua pattern. More than 300 sites in or near the city have ancient ruins. Preserved Ming- and Qing-style residences number close to 4,000. The streets and storefronts still largely retain their historical appearance. In the Spring and Autumn Period, the county belonged to the kingdom of Jin. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

City Wall in Xi'an, China [ Photo by Maros M r a z (Maros) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Xi'an (Chinese: 西安; pinyin: Xī'ān) is the capital of the Shaanxi province, and a sub-provincial city in the People's Republic of China. One of the oldest cities in China, with more than 3,100 years of history, the city was known as Chang'an before the Ming Dynasty. Xi'an is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, having held that position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history, including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang. Xi'an is the eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home to the Terracotta Army. As a tourist city, Xi'an has built expressways to Lintong, Tongchuan and Baoji, with well-maintained roads to famous scenic spots in suburban counties and to the north slope of the Qin Mountains. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Akshardham Temple [ Photo by Swaminarayan Sanstha / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Delhi, locally as Dilli (Hindi: दिल्ली, Punjabi: ਦਿੱਲੀ, Urdu: دِلّی) or Dehli (Hindi: देहली, Punjabi: ਦੇਹਲੀ, Urdu: دهلی), officially National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by population in India. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,235 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census. There are nearly 22.2 million residents in the greater National Capital Region urban area (which also includes Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad along with other smaller nearby towns). (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Golden Pavilion in Autumn [ Photo by Nicholas Graves / CC BY 3.0 ]

Kyoto) is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. The city's cultural heritages are constantly visited by school groups from across Japan, and many foreign tourists also stop in Kyoto. In 2007, the city government announced that a record number of tourists had visited Kyoto for the sixth year in a row., and it was chosen as the second most attractive city in Japan, in a regional brand survey. In late 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi restructured the city by building new streets to double the number of north-south streets in central Kyoto, creating rectangle blocks superseding ancient square blocks. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Luang Prabang with the Nam Khan River [ Photo by Alcyon / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Luang Prabang, or Louangphrabang, is a city located in north central Laos, where the Nam Khan river meets the Mekong River about 425 kilometers (264 mi) north of Vientiane. It is the capital of Luang Prabang Province. The current population of the city is about 103,000. As China has recently allowed its citizens to travel more freely to Laos, the number of tourists in the area is expected to increase rapidly, creating pressure to modernize the tourist infrastructure, particularly catering to package tourism. The city was formerly the capital of a kingdom of the same name. Until the communist takeover in 1975, it was the royal capital and seat of government of the Kingdom of Laos. The city is also notable as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main part of the city consists of four main roads located on a peninsula between the Nam Khan and Mekong rivers. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

View of Kathmandu Valley from Swayambunath Stupa. [ Photo by Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) / CC BY 3.0 ]

Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ ; Nepal Bhasa: येँ देय्‌) is the capital and, with close to one million inhabitants, the largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas, which contains two sister cities: Lalitpur (Patan), 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its south and Bhaktapur or Bhadgaon, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) to its east, and a number of smaller towns. It is also acronymed as 'KTM' and named 'tri-city'. In the last census (2001), the city of Kathmandu had 671,846 inhabitants. Population estimates for 2005 were 790,612 and for 2010 they stood at 989,273. The municipal area is (50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi)) and the population density is 19,500 per km². (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Palace Square, Saint Petersburg [ Photo by yasmapaz & ace_heart / CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

Saint Petersburg (Russian: Санкт-Петербург, tr. Sankt-Peterburg, IPA:  ) is a city and a federal subject (a federal city) of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. In 1914 the name of the city was changed to Petrograd (Russian: Петроград, IPA: ), in 1924 to Leningrad (Russian: Ленинград, IPA: ) and in 1991 back to Saint Petersburg. To the tourist, Saint Petersburg appears gray and rainy most of the time, it is interrupted with warm sunny days as well. The climate can be compared to that of the states in the Mid-Atlantic. Specific cities such as Pittsburgh, Pa, Columbus, Oh, Philadelphia, Pa. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Miri Arab madressah in en:Bukhara. [ Photo by Anatoly Terentiev / public domain ]

Bukhara (Persian: بُخارا; Tajik: Бухоро; Uzbek: Buxoro / Бухоро), from the Soghdian βuxārak ("lucky place"), is the capital of the Bukhara Province (viloyat) of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 (2009 census estimate). The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time. Located on the Silk Road, the city has long been a center of trade, scholarship, culture, and religion. The historic center of Bukhara, which contains numerous mosques and madrassas, has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Registan mosques in Samarkand. [ Photo by Steve Evans (babasteve) / CC BY 2.0 ]

Samarkand (Uzbek: Samarqand; Tajik: Самарқанд; Persian: سمرقند; from Sogdian: "Stone Fort" or "Rock Town") is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of Samarqand Province. The city is most noted for its central position on the Silk Road between China and the West, and for being an Islamic centre for scholarly study. In the 14th century, it became the capital of the empire of Timur (Tamerlane), and is the site of his mausoleum (the Gur-e Amir). The Bibi-Khanym Mosque remains one of the city's most notable landmarks. The Registan was the ancient centre of the city. There are several theories regarding the name of Samarkand. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

A photo of Hoi An Ancient Town [ Photo by Crazy3108 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Hội An is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quảng Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants. It has been recognized as World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Today, the town is a major tourist attraction because of its traditional architecture, crafts such as textiles and ceramics preserved and visitors are exploited. Many bars, hotels, and resorts have been constructed both in Hội An and the surrounding area. The port mouth and boats are still used for both fishing and tourism. The city possessed the largest harbour in Southeast Asia in the 1st century and was known as Lâm Ấp Phố (Champa City). Between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Cham (people of Champa) controlled the strategic spice trade and with this came tremendous wealth. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Noon gate at Hue citadel [ Photo by Lưu Ly / public domain ]

Huế (化 in chữ Nôm) is the capital city of Thừa Thiên – Huế province, Vietnam. Between 1802 and 1945, it was the imperial capital of the Nguyễn Dynasty. It is well known for its monuments and architecture. Its population stands at about 340,000 people. Today, little of the forbidden city remains, though reconstruction efforts are in progress to maintain it as a historic tourist attraction. Huế originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyễn Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trịnh Sâm captured it, it was known as Phú Xuân. In 1802, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Huế the national capital. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Middle East

33 Pol Bridge. [ Photo by Farokh Behmardi / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Isfahan (Persian: اصفهان Esfahān), historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609, Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad. The Isfahan metropolitan area had a population of 3,430,353 in the 2006 Census, the second most populous metropolitan area in Iran after Tehran. The history of Isfahan can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period. In recent discoveries, archaeologists have found artefacts dating back to the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages. Esfahan fell temporarily under the rule of Arabs until the Abbasid era, only being attended to by Al-Mansur. In the 10th century, under the Buwayhid Dynasty, Esfahan regained its importance. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Acre's Port [ Photo by Deror avi / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Acre (Hebrew: עַכּוֹ‎‎, Akko; Arabic: عكّا‎, ʻAkkā), is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country. Historically, it was a strategic coastal link to the Levant. Acre is the holiest city of the Bahá'í Faith. In 2009, the population was 46,300. Acre is a mixed city, 72 percent Jewish and 28 percent Arab. The mayor is Shimon Lankri, who was re-elected in 2011. Strabo refers to the city as once a rendezvous for the Persians in their expeditions against Egypt. About 165 BC Judas Maccabeus defeated the Syrians in many battles in Galilee, and drove them into Ptolemais. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Temple Mount [ Photo by אסף.צ / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Jerusalem (Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם‎‎, Yerushaláyim, ISO 259-3 Yrušalaym, "Abode of Peace"; Arabic: القُدس, al-Quds [al-Sharif], "The Holy Sanctuary", أُورشَلِيم, Ūrshalīm)[ii] is the capital of Israel, though not internationally recognized as such.[iii] If the area and population of East Jerusalem is included, it is Israel's largest city in both population and area, with a population of 763,800 residents over an area of 125.1 km2 (48.3 sq mi).[iv] Located in the Judean Mountains, between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern edge of the Dead Sea, modern Jerusalem has grown far beyond the boundaries of the Old City. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Mohammad al-Amin mosque and Saint George Maronite Cathedral sit side by side in Beirut's central district [ Photo by Lebnen18 / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Beirut (Arabic: بيروت‎ Bayrūt, French: Beyrouth) is the capital and largest city of Lebanon with a population ranging from some 1 million to more than 2 million as of 2007. Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's coastline with the Mediterranean, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan Area, which consists of the city and its suburbs. The first mention of this metropolis is found in the ancient Egyptian Tell el Amarna letters, dating to the 15th century BC, and the city has been continuously inhabited since. After the destructive Lebanese civil war, Beirut underwent major reconstruction, and the redesigned historic city centre, marina, pubs and nightlife districts have once again rendered it a tourist attraction. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The souk at Byblos [ Photo by Linaduliban / public domain ]

Byblos (Ancient Greek: Βύβλος) is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal (Hebrew: גְבַל‎; earlier Gubla, Phoenician: ������). It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of (جبيل Jubayl) and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades. It is believed to have been founded around 5000 BC, and according to fragments attributed to the semi-legendary pre-Trojan war Phoenician historian Sanchuniathon, it was built by Cronus as the first city in Phoenicia. Today it is believed by many to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. Byblos is re-emerging as an upscale touristic hub. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The fantastic remains of the ancient Triumphal Arch in Tyre, Lebanon. [ Photo by David Bjorgen / CC BY-SA 2.5 ]

Tyre (Arabic: صور, Ṣūr; Phoenician:, Ṣur; Hebrew: צוֹר‎‎, Tzor; Tiberian Hebrew צר, Ṣōr; Akkadian: ���� Ṣurru; Greek: Τύρος, Týros; Turkish: Sur; Latin: Tyrus) is a city in the South Governorate of Lebanon. There were approximately 117,000 inhabitants in 2003, however, the government of Lebanon has released only rough estimates of population numbers since 1932, so an accurate statistical accounting is not possible. Tyre juts out from the coast of the Mediterranean and is located about 80 km (50 mi) south of Beirut. The name of the city means "rock" after the rocky formation on which the town was originally built. The adjective for Tyre is Tyrian, and the inhabitants are Tyrians. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The Umayyad Mosque – The Dome of the Eagle (Qubbat Al-Nisr), Damascus [ Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Damascus (Arabic: دِمَشق‎ Dimashq), commonly known in Syria as Al Sham (Arabic: الشام‎ Al Shām), and as the City of Jasmine (Arabic: مدينة الياسمين‎ Madīnatu 'i Yāsmīn), is the capital and the largest city of Syria and one of the country's 14 governorates. The Damascus Governorate is ruled by a governor appointed by the Minister of Interior. Damascus is a major cultural and religious center of the Levant. The city has an estimated population of 4,211,000 (2009 est.). Since the early 2000s, numerous boutique hotels and bustling cafes opened in the old city which attract plenty of European tourists and Damascenes alike. The real-estate sector is booming in Damascus. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Hagia Sophia, standing in Istanbul. [ Photo by Christophe Meneboeuf (http://www.pixinn.net) / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul), historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople (see the names of Istanbul for further information) is the largest city of Turkey. According to the address-based birth recording system of the Turkish Statistical Institute, the metropolitan municipality (province) of the city had a population of 13.26 million as of 2010, which is 17.98% of Turkey's population. The last census data from 2000 puts its proper population at 8.8 million. Istanbul is a megacity, as well as the cultural, economic, and financial centre of Turkey. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbour known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) sides of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

Sana'a from the roof [ Photo by ai@ce / CC BY 2.0 ]

Sana'a, also spelt Sanaa, is the capital of Yemen and the centre of San‘a’ Governorate; however the city itself is not part of the Governorate, but forms the separate administrative district of "Amanat Al-Asemah". The Mamelukes arrived in Yemen in AD 1517. Following the collapse of the Mamelukes in Egypt at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, Yemen fell under the Ottoman rule and during the first Ottoman rule of Yemen between 1538–1635, Sana'a became the capital of the Ottoman wilayah and also during the Ottoman second rule 1872-1918. In 1918, Sana'a was the capital of Imam Yahya, who ruled North Yemen. At the onset of the 1962 revolution which deposed the imamate rule, it became the capital of the Yemen Arab Republic. It was then the capital of unified Yemen in 1990 where it is dubbed as the historical capital of Yemen. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)

The high-rise architectures at Shibam, Wadi Hadhramaut (or Hadhramout, Hadramawt) Yemen. [ Photo by Jialiang Gao www.peace-on-earth.org / CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

Shibam (Arabic: شبام‎) (often referred to as Shibam Hadhramaut) is a town in Yemen with about 7,000 inhabitants. The first known inscription about the city dates from the 3rd century AD. It was the capital of the Hadramawt Kingdom. Shibam, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owes its fame to its distinct architecture.The houses of Shibam are all made out of mud brick and about 500 of them are tower houses, which rise 5 to 11 stories high, with each floor having one or two rooms. This architectural style was used in order to protect residents from Bedouin attacks. While Shibam has been in existence for an estimated 1,700 years, most of the city's houses originate from the 16th century. Many, though, have been rebuilt numerous times in the last few centuries. (based on a wikipedia article / cc by-sa)