Europe Action & adventure, Beach, Castles & palaces + Historic buildings pictures

• World

Colorful architecture, a warm climate and a laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle make this coastal city a favorite with celebrities and holidaymakers.

A canal filled with boats laps around the scenic gardens at the front of this neo-Renaissance palace known as the Venice of Seville.

Visit the two intriguing castles that flank this historic Spanish beach and relax on its photogenic stretch of golden sand.

Take a sightseeing trip of Tuscany\'s renowned wine region and visit its vineyards, wineries, ancient churches, castles and hilltop villages.

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

The western section of Gamla Stan is a small islet decorated with aristocratic 17th-century palaces and one of the city’s oldest churches.  

Learn about the roots of Western civilization and build a nice tan on a Mediterranean island in this ancient southeastern European nation.

Giotto’s Bell Tower, the resplendent Baptistery, as well as the cathedral and its dome draw the crowds to this square in the heart of the city.

Explore this photogenic riverside square, which is bordered by two grand neoclassical palaces and features a spectacular fountain at its center.

Explore this photogenic riverside square, which is bordered by two grand neoclassical palaces and features a spectacular fountain at its center.

See the majestic gate that was once Madrid’s eastern entrance but is today a symbol of the Spanish metropolis.

Stop by a 16th-century meeting room inside the Cathedral of Seville that is stunningly decorated with religious paintings, sculptures and reliefs.

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.

Find out why literary masters, such as Goethe and Victor Hugo, heaped praise on this remarkable, pink-hued cathedral.

Wander between campus buildings and architectural landmarks, visit museums, catch a theater show and admire outdoor art displays at this city center university. 

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

The golden foyer and the glitzy restaurants here compete for attention with the range of spectacular ballets, operas and recitals.

Its grandiose colonnade and refurbished 19th-century interior make up an exquisite setting, with excellent acoustics for operatic shows and music concerts.

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

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.