Paris

Paris, world capital of art and culture, gathers some of the most famous museums and monuments in the world. Like all the world's great capitals, Paris lives at a fast pace, by day, by night and especially at rush hours. Bear in mind that museums and monuments are often less crowded during the week. Sights that should not be missed include: The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay. Visit any of the many others according to your tastes and interests: the Musee Picasso, Musee Rodin, Musee Carnavalet, Musee Marmottan and the Arab Institute are just a few. Essential Paris monuments are the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame cathedral, the Arc de Triomphe or the Grande Arche de la Defense.

London

London is undoubtedly one of the world's finest cities. In addition to numerous monuments from its more glorious past, London is equally well-known for its pageantry and tradition. London has something for everyone - wide boulevards buzzing with excitement far into the night, quiet squares and explorable alleyways. Visit this famous city's parks, museums, galleries, monuments, abbeys and churches, skyscrapers and ruins, Georgian squares. Take in such events as the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower, or the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, or even one of the many theatrical productions. Some of the most exclusive shops are found along Oxford, Bond and Regent Streets. An old favorite and one of the world's premier institutions is Harrods - offering everything from Chanel suits and sliced salmon to caviar and even pets.

Amsterdam

Cosmopolitan Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Interesting attractions include the medieval weighhouse, Royal Palace on Dam Square, and New Church. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Not too far from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem, the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Enjoy the city’s sights from a glass-topped sightseeing boat which passes characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Facing Dam Square, the Royal Palace was built in 1648 and is still officially the royal residence, although the royal family resides in The Hague. The marbled Citizens Hall with inlaid maps of the world is worth seeing. One of Amsterdam’s most visited sites is historic Anne Frank House. Rijksmuseum, the city’s most prestigious museum, houses the largest collection of Dutch paintings in the world. Van Gogh Museum houses a striking collection.

Rome

Sprawled across seven legendary hills, romantic and beautiful Rome was one

of the great centers of the ancient world. Although its beginning is shrouded

in legend and its development is full of intrigue and struggle, Rome has always

been and remains the Eternal City.

Rome enjoyed its greatest splendor during the 1st and 2nd centuries when art

flourished, monumental works of architecture were erected, and the mighty Roman

legions swept outward, conquering all of Italy. These victorious armies then

swept across the Mediterranean and beyond to conquer most of the known world.

With Rome's establishment as capital of the western world, a new ascent to glory

began.

Today's Rome, with its splendid churches, ancient monuments and palaces, spacious

parks, tree-lined boulevards, fountains, outdoor cafes and elegant shops, is

one of the world’s most attractive and exciting cities. Among the most famous

monuments is the Colosseum. As you walk its cool, dark passageways, imagine

the voices that once filled the arena as 50,000 spectators watched combats between

muscled gladiators and ferocious animals.

Stop to see the remains of the Forum, once the city's political and commercial

center. In later times, Rome's squares were enhanced with such imposing structures

as the Vittorio Emanuele Monument and grandiose fountains like the Fontana di

Trevi. Join the millions who stand in awe of Christendom’s most magnificent

church and admire the timeless masterpieces of Michelangelo's frescoes in the

Sistine Chapel.

Rome jars the senses and captures the soul. Grasp all you can during the short,

precious time you have available in the Eternal City. With so much to see and

do, a day or two will only allow you a sampling of the city's marvelous treasures.

Caution: As in many big cities and tourist destinations purse snatching

and pickpocketing is common. Valuable jewelry and excess cash are best left

in a safety deposit box in your hotel.

Shopping For most visitors shopping for beautiful Italian leather articles,

designer shoes, fashions for men and women, linens, knitwear, silk scarves and

ties is a favorite pastime. Except for tourist-oriented shops, the majority

of stores are closed on Sundays. Some of the department stores, such as Rinascente,

open in the late afternoon on Sundays.

Cuisine Rome's choice of restaurants is mindboggling as is the variety

of cuisine. Whether your meal is at a top-rated restaurant or a rustic trattoria,

you can be sure that you will enjoy your food, especially when accompanied by

wines from the hill towns surrounding Rome.

Other Sights Rome's attractions are endless, and depending on how much

time you have at your disposal a careful selection has to be made about what

to see. Be aware of horrendous traffic conditions and major construction work

all around the city in preparation of Jubilee 2000, the Holy Year. Some of the

sights not to be missed:

Piazza Venezia - This busy square is easily recognized by its imposing Vittorio

Emanuele II Monument. The white marble structure was inaugurated in 1911 as

a symbol of Italy’s unification.

The Forum - Once the civic heart of ancient Rome, today the remains include

a series of ruins, marble fragments, isolated columns and some worn arches.

Colosseum - No visit to Rome is complete without a stop at this awe-inspiring

theater, which is among the world’s most celebrated buildings. Here ancient

Rome flocked to see gladiatorial contests and numerous other spectacles.

Trevi Fountain - Take a stroll to Rome's famous fountain. A spectacular fantasy

of mythical sea creatures and cascades of splashing water, the fountain is one

of the city's foremost attractions. Legend has it that visitors must toss a

coin into the fountain to ensure their return to Rome.

St. Peter's Square - Part of Vatican City, this square created by Bernini

is considered one of the loveliest squares in the world. Twin Doric colonnades

topped with statues of various saints and martyrs flank either side of the square.

In the center stands an 84-foot obelisk, brought from Egypt in 37 A.D.

St. Peter's Basilica - At the head of the square stands Christendom's most

magnificent church, which was begun in 1452 on the site where St. Peter was

buried. Throughout the following 200 years, such Renaissance masters as Bramante,

Michelangelo, Raphael and Bernini worked on its design and created an unparalleled

masterpiece. Of special note are Michelangelo's Pieta and the bronze canopy

over the high altar by Bernini. The immense dome was designed by Michelangelo.

Vatican Museum - To see this museum's immense collection would take days.

As you enter, there are special posters that plot a choice of four color-coded

itineraries. They are repeated throughout the museum and are easy to follow.

It is a good idea to pickup a leaflet at the main entrance and concentrate on

exhibits of major interest. Of course, the Sistine Chapel is a must. Most likely

you may have to wait in line to enter.

Venice

With a great historic past and incomparable art treasures, Venice is renowned as one of the world’s great cities. Its 118 islands are separated by more than 150 canals and spanned by 400 bridges. During Venice's artistic golden age many magnificent structures were erected to create world-famous masterpieces. One of the best sightseeing routes is along Grand Canal, with many palaces lining the famous waterway. St. Mark’s Square offers access to some of Venice’s most famed attractions - St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace. From Piazza San Marco, a maze of narrow streets are lined with shops, cafés and restaurants. A popular pastime is sitting at an outdoor café facing the square while people-watching and letting the whole marvelous scenario unfold. Venice’s Murano, Burano and Torcello Islands comprise an area famous as home of Venice’s glass-blowing industry and known for their charm, skilled lace-making and medieval monuments. Relax on a gondola ride, see art treasures in museums, churches and palaces, and have a sumptuous meal - all in this incomparable city.

Florence

The creative explosion of the Italian Renaissance happened right here, leaving petite Florence more art treasures than most national capitals. View the masterworks of local heroes like Michelangelo and Botticelli, visit countless unforgettable basilicas, then climb up into Brunelleschi's soaring dome to watch the sun set among cypress-clad Tuscan hillsides.

Vienna

Vienna is dominated by imperial castles and places: Schonbrunn, the magnificent summer residence, the Imperial Coach Collection, the Palm House, the Butterfly House, Belvedere Palace, magnificent state rooms in Hofburg, and the imperial crown in the Treasury. Stop by Ringstraße - the showplace of the monarchy built where Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of city walls. Important buildings include the State Opera, the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, Parliament, City Hall and Vienna University. The world capital of music. A long line of great composers Johann Strauss, Haydn and Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, Mahler and Schonberg all worked here. A city with splendid concert halls, such as the Golden Hall, from which the Philharmonic's New Year's Day concert is broadcast annually. International stars love to appear here in the State Opera, Volksoper, Konzerthaus, and at festivals like the Vienna Festival, the Klangbogen concerts during the Musical Summer, the Jazz Festval and the Haydn, Mozart and Schubert festivals.

Lucerne

Without a doubt one of the prettiest towns in Switzerland, Lucerne lies in the heart of the country on famous lake of Lucerne. Dotted with Renaissance and Baroque fountains, colorful paintings on the gables and commanded by the exquisite wooden bridge, the Kapellbrücke and Wasserturm, the 13th century octagonal water tower, Lucerne's character is pure charm. Spectacular views and sights abound from almost every vantage point in and around Lucerne. The Old Town Hall is a fine example of a Renaissance building while the City Wall, built between 1350 and 1405 stands proud above the city. A stroll along the quay leads past the modern health resort and onto the largest, most important Transport Museum in Europe and the only Planetarium in Switzerland. The famous Lion Monument and Glacier Garden make for remarkable viewing as do the mountain peaks surrounding the city. A short drive from town takes visitors to some of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth, and a short drive from Viewaldstätter Lake leads to nearby winter resorts and many more lakes.

Budapest

Caught between eastern and western Europe, Budapest has a character uniquely its own. It's also the last cheap, civilised city in Europe. Budapest can seem like one big sight, with each phase in its history, from the Ottoman period until the Communist days and from renaissance to revolution, leaving its mark on the city. For the tourist, a trip to Hungary's capital is dominated by the majestic sights of Buda. In the summer, there are open-air festivals at Szeged, Diosgyor Castle in Miskolc, Gyor and Pecs. Visit the former Royal Palace complex, the Matyas templom and the Belvaros. Margaret Island is a giant recreational park and feels pleasantly separated from the city bustle. Hungarian National Gallery houses Hungarian art since the birth of the nation. Although Esztergom is Hungary's most sacred city, home of the Archbishop and the nation's biggest church, it has a real-life edge. The first-time visitor to Szeged is invariably struck by its space and grandeur. One's immediate impressions of Hungary's third largest provincial city are of greenery and plazas, of broad.

Prague

Amid Prague's cobblestone streets and gold-tip spires, galleries, cafes, and clubs teem with young Czechs and "expatriates." New shops and restaurants have opened, expanding the city's culinary reach beyond the traditional roast pork and dumplings. The arts and theater also thrive in Prague. Young playwrights regularly stage their works, weekly poetry readings are standing room only, and classical music maintains famous standards, while the clubs are jammed. The arts - nonverbal theater, "installation" art, world music - are as trendy in Prague as in any European capital but possess distinctive Czech flavor. All of this is set against a stunning backdrop of towering churches and centuries-old bridges and alleyways. Prague achieved much of its glory in the 14th century, during the long reign of Charles IV, king of Bohemia and Moravia and Holy Roman Emperor. Charles established a university in the city and laid out the New Town, charting Prague's growth. Prague Castle is the most popular sight and is the largest ancient castle in the world with three courtyards.

Wurzburg

The historic bishopric of Würzburg on the river Main is now the capital of Lower Franconia. Surrounded by sloping hills covered with vineyards, Würzburg is a centre of the wine trade. Visit the cathedral, the Neumünster church, the Marienkapelle and the old town hall. The true highlight is the former episcopal residence built from 1719 to 1744. This splendid example of German Baroque architecture is the most important secular building of the period. It features a grand staircase with a magnificent fresco by Giovanni Tiepolo.