Wroclaw, Poland

Everyone loves Wrocław (vrots-wahf) and it's easy to see why. A more manageable Kraków, with all the cultural attributes and entertainment, the capital of Lower Silesia has a character all its own. Having absorbed Bohemian, Austrian and Prussian influences, the city has a unique architectural and cultural makeup, best seen in its magnificent market square. Wrocław's location on the Odra River, with its 12 islands, 130 bridges and riverside parks, is idyllic, and the beautifully preserved ecclesiastical district is a treat for lovers of Gothic architecture. Fans of Wrocław are in good company. Pablo Picasso said he found the postwar reconstruction of the city a powerful inspiration on a visit in 1948, and the British historians Norman Davies and Roger Moorhouse used Wrocław as the model for their highly readable Microcosm: A Portrait of a Central European City (2003).