Europe Action & adventure, Castles & palaces, Landscape, Modern architecture, Mountain, Waterfall + Winter pictures

• World

Scotland’s capital is filled with attractive landmarks, parks and gardens, and hosts cultural festivals that draw millions of visitors each year.

The rooftop terrace has stunning vistas of central Madrid, while the interior is a hub of the arts, from music and poetry events to lectures and science exhibits.

Admire the greatest works of Michelangelo and da Vinci, see the center of Catholicism and pose with the Leaning Tower of Pisa on this Mediterranean peninsula.

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

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

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

Escape the city and head to one of the world’s largest urban parks, which has lakes and meadows, as well as beer gardens and a variety of interesting relics.

Discover themed gardens, artist pavilions, viewpoints and wildlife stations set around a natural amphitheater in the grounds of a medieval castle. 

Be spellbound by the scale and splendor of the Spanish Royal Family’s former official residence.

One of the world’s smallest countries lies within eastern Italy’s countryside. Visit the longstanding city-state for natural beauty, culture and food specialties.

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

Visit the upscale ski resorts, trek across the snow-capped mountains and learn about the mixtures of cultures in this eclectic region.

For some of the best views over Verona, head up the hill to the castle that stands on the site where the city was founded.

The rooftop terrace has stunning vistas of central Madrid, while the interior is a hub of the arts, from music and poetry events to lectures and science exhibits.

Be spellbound by the scale and splendor of the Spanish Royal Family’s former official residence.

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

For some of the best views over Verona, head up the hill to the castle that stands on the site where the city was founded.

This pretty southern Italian oceanfront town is famous for its ancient Roman buildings, gorgeous scenery and slow pace of life.