Baeza is mostly known as a fine example of well-preserved Italian Renaissance architecture ensemble. Because of that it was enscribed into UNESCO World Heritage List (together with nearby town of Úbeda) in 2003. Both towns got rich in 16th century from the production of textiles, so it's when all those fine houses were built. In 17th century, the industry collapsed and that's why few newer houses were built and thus, unique ensemble preserved. Still, there are some remains of Moorish fortifications in town. The university, established in 1538, now serves as a secondary school.

Modena is an ancient town, its origin are etruscan and first written mention about it was done in 3d century BC in connection to Punic Wars. Its university is one of the oldest in the world - it was founded in 1175 and its traditional strong faculties are economics, medicine and law. Town's cathedral ensemble is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its old town is cozy and museums are numerous. Gastronomy enthusiasts worldwide praise the locally produced balsamic vinegar. On top of all this, town is known "the capital of engines" because of factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Pagani and Maserati, who have (or had) their factories and headquarters in Modena.

The town is renowned for its Roman architecture. Its Roman theatre, the Théâtre antique d'Orange, is described as the most impressive still existing in Europe. The fine Triumphal Arch of Orange, theatre and surroundings were listed in 1981 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. At Roman times, Orange was a capital of northern Provence and was regarded as "Miniature Rome".

This town is surprisingly non-touristic comparing to much smaller Český Krumlov and Karlovy Vary - however, its charm and historic heritage are acknowledged by UNESCO, who inscribed Holity Trinity Column (biggest Baroque sculptural group in the Czech Republic) on Upper Square into a World Heritage List in 2000. Besides many monuments, town is famous for its university. Olomouc has highest density of university students in Central Europe - every fourth inhabitant is studying at one of eight university faculties. Many of the town's services are student-oriented.

Mons is the capital of Walloon province called Hainaut. After town was fortified in 12th century, it became an attractive place to live and developed itself into a rich town of fine architecture. Mons has quite a turbulent past, being a target of attacks by neighbours. This went into 20th century too: the battle of Mons was one of key elements of World War I, and during World War II the town was heavily bombed. Nowadays Mons enjoys the period of peace and its cultural importance is acknowledged by European Commission that named Mons a European Cultural Capital in 2015.

First time mentioned in 241 BC by the name of Spoletum, the town was an important settlement in the times of Roman Empire. Unsurprisingly, many of ancient building that draw visitors nowadays, have a respectful age of two thousand years. There is also a majestic fortress overlooking the town from the top of the hill, several nice palaces and churches - one of which, the basilica of San Salvatore was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. Since 1958, world famous Festival dei Due Mondi takes place every June. Concept of the festival is to have the worlds of American and European culture facing each other - so, there's a twin festival occurring in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, since 1977. Spoleto is a convenient day trip from Rome.

Broad streets and numerous palaces (most notably, the Estense castle) originate mostly from 14th and 15th centuries. For its beauty and cultural importance, Ferrara was inscribed into UNESCO Wold Heritage List The town is still surrounded by more than 9 kilometres (6 miles) of ancient walls, mainly built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Together with those of Lucca, they are the best preserved Renaissance walls in Italy. Most palaces of the town also belong to this period. The historical Jewish community is still surviving in town.

This is the place which was famous for its skyline long before people learned to built skyscrapers. Unlike many other towns who lost their fortifications due to wars, urban renewal or nature catastrophies, San Gimignano managed to conserve fourteen city wall towers of different heights. This can be partly explained by the fact that the town stand on top of the hill - which makes its skyline even more dramatic. Within the walls, this small town is a fine example of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The historic centre of San Gimignano is UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990. The town is also known for the white wine made of ancient variety of vernaccia grape, quite straightforwardly named Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

This town is a must visit if only because of its proximity to Rügen - a large and beautifully shaped island, whose many lagoons, sandy beaches, peninsulas and open bays are huge attractions for sea-loving German vacationeers. Stralsund and Rügen are naturally separated by a narrow (max 3km) strait called Strelasund. There are two bridges and several ferry lines that are crossing Strelasund. The island is named UNESCO site because of its natural beauty, while Stralsund's old town is granted the same status for its architectural and cultural heritage.

The old Bavarian town of Bamberg is one of the jewels in historical region of Franconia. Since the middle of the 13th century and until 1802 the town was ruled by bishops, which had an impact on Bamberg's history and architecture. The only Pope buried to North of Alps, rests in Bamberg's cathedral. There are seven hills in town, each of which is crowned by a beautiful church. This fact alludes to Rome, which is also called a "city on the seven hills". The town itself is an untouched historical monument survived in World War II - this fact is emphasized by inscription of Bamberg into UNESCO World Heritage List. With its 11 breweries, Bamberg is famous for its beer traditions.

One of the best-kept secrets in Germany despite being a UNESCO-listed heritage site, Quedlinburg is seriously amazing. Its old town is almost completely half-timbered, and many buildings in the old castle district are very, very old: the Romanesque Church of St Servatius dates to 1129, has a 10th century crypt and has collection of early Bibles. The castle and the cathedral still dominate town's skyline in the same way they did for centuries. Quedlinburg is located in less populated area and a bit far from major tourist cities, so it's a great destination off the beaten track.