Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, was one of the great mercantile cities in the Middle Ages. The Old Town island, surrounded by the river Trave and the canal, today still communicates the charm of a port. Travemünde is one of the most beautiful sea resorts of Europe which already in 1802 transformed the former fishing- and sailor village into a top address for bathers from near and far. The fascinating sailing Old-timer “Passat”, chugging deep-sea fishing boats and gigantic ferryboats can be admired on the Baltic Sea.

Speaking of Parma, the first things that come to mind are probably the ham and Parmesan cheese. Indeed, Parma is one of the most important culinary centres of Italy — but this city is so much more than that. Parma was the capital of a very powerful duchy, which left a legacy of stunning monuments and palaces. In addition, the splendour of that period created fertile grounds for the flourishing of art. In fact, Parma became one of the main centres for opera, thanks to its amazing theatres and its fine citizen Giuseppe Verdi.

Crete, the largest of Greek islands, is a place where myth meets history, where the age-old Cretan culture teems in modern villas, where the sea meets the mountains, and unspoiled nature coexists with modern tourist infrastructure. Crete has a thousand faces: one for each and every sort of traveller: the nature-lover, the explorer, the cosmopolitan, the lover of history, and the classic vulture.

Tucson draws visitors with its sunlit Sonoran Desert landscapes and mountain vistas. The city’s rich cultural tapestry, shaped by Native American, Latin, and European influences, adds depth to its charm. Its unique geography creates an outdoor haven, offering diverse terrain for hikers, rock climbers, and cyclists of all levels.

Founded nearly eight centuries ago, Indonesia’s second-largest city has seen empires come and go. The founders of the Hindu Majapahit Empire arrived in the late 13th century and remained until the 17th, to be followed by Muslim rulers of Mataram, then the colonialists of the Dutch East India Company. In recent decades, Surabaya has grown into a cosmopolitan seaport and conurbation where 21st-century hotels, apartment towers, and shopping malls stand next to historic mosques and palaces.