Padua, Italy
Padua is full of fascinating places to see. Saint Anthony’s Basilica, with a magnificent silver sarcophagus housing the saint’s body, easily rivals Saint Peter’s in Rome. The nearby botanical gardens, filled with plants and flowers, are a delightful way to pass a few hours. In the morning, hit Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe, for buzzy markets selling everything from strawberries to sneakers, or pop into the Palazzo della Ragione with its impressive frescoes. At night, both squares become open-air bars and restaurants for sampling local cuisine. If you have time for a day trip, Verona and Venice are less than an hour away by train.
Berni G
Bologna, Italy
When I picture Bologna, it’s always bathed in golden-hour light that makes its rust-red walls glow. But what lies beneath the surface bewitches just as much. Exploring the small and idiosyncratic museums of the university reveals ancient courtyards. Diving into hidden doors and arches leads to secrets – or food. Music and debate liven evenings in the main square. And there’s the welcome. On my last trip I watched locals in impassioned discussion, taking turns on stools in Piazza Maggiore. Not trusting my Italian, I declined an invitation to contribute, but gladly accepted the cherries shared among the crowd.
Siobhan Maher
Lucca, Italy
Lucca in Tuscany has deep roots and many surprises: a Roman amphitheatre morphed into a piazza of cafes and shops; city walls never breached in war, so now you can ride a bike round all 4km. The city fascinates on every visit – from holm oak trees atop the Guinigi Tower to cartoon exhibitions. The music is eclectic – daily Puccini recitals in churches or international rock stars playing the city squares or walls. Its labyrinth of medieval streets recall the past, but it has the ability to change its face, maybe as a result of outwitting competing Italian medieval city states to stay independent.
Rosie Edwards
Melilla, Spain/North Africa
Melilla, the Spanish enclave on Morocco’s northern coast, is a relic of Spain’s colonial past with a character determined by its geography. Facing the Mediterranean on one side and the Rif mountains on the other, and hemmed in by a terrifying border fence, it is definitively multicultural, with Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu communities living side by side with a large force of Spanish legionnaires. The cityscape is equally diverse: streets of small Moroccan houses give way to wide avenues lined with art deco marvels; it’s even home to Africa’s only genuine gothic church. Weird really doesn’t come close.
Digby Warde-Aldam
Belgrade, Serbia
We have just returned from Belgrade – unlike any other European capital and an unexpected pleasure, from the flaking but charming old town perched between the Sava and the Danube, to the new town with an astonishing array of futuristic modern architecture including mind-blowing examples of concrete brutalism. Wherever we went people were unfailingly polite, straightforward and helpful. Public transport is ubiquitous and easy to use (who doesn’t like an hour and a half unlimited ride for 50p?), making the city and its unconventional attractions easy to explore. Easy to get to by plane or train, and a great base for exploring the Balkans if you have the time and energy.
William Gage
