A view of one of the many canals that flow through the medieval city of Bruges, located in the West Flanders province of northwest Belgium.



Bruges, sometimes known as the Venice of the North, has a population of over 117,000, of which 20,000 live in the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site city center. The city was founded by Vikings in the 9th century, and from the 12th to the 15th century, Bruges become a major trading center because of its location near the North Sea and its canals, but in the 1500s, its major channel began to silt, and Bruges fell into despair until tourism and a new port brought new life in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Belfry, seen in the background at 272 feet, is a famous bell tower built in the 13th century. Inside the tower, 48 bells can be found along with 366 steps to the top. In 2008, a film staring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson was filmed almost entirely in the city, and was not surprisingly titled In Bruges.

The colorful Old Town of Salzburg, Austria, as viewed high above from Hohensalzburg Castle.



The castle was built in 1077. Salzburg, or "salt castle", derived from the barges of salt that use to be carried on the Salzach river, can be seen flowing through the city. Today, Salzburg is world famous for its beautiful Alpine views, the birthplace of Mozart, baroque architecture, and film settings for parts of the film The Sound of Music.

A view of the harbor of Capri island. This four square mile island can be found about 6 miles off the coast of Sorrento, Italy and has a population of 12,200.


The highest point is Monte Solaro at 1,932 feet. Throughout history, Capri has been the home of Roman emperors and military troops. Capri, with its famous villas, blue grotto, and the community of Anacapri, is today a popular resort destination. The city of Capri, seen in the background, is the main center of population on the island.

Built during the 14th century, the Alhambra or "red fortress" can be found on terrace high above the city of Granada, Spain.


The palace was once the residence of Muslim rulers who lost control in 1492 to King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella. This view is from the Albayzin district.

Piazza del Popolo, or piazza of the people, is a large square located in Rome, Italy.


The piazza, constructed between 1811 and 1822, was designed in a neoclassical style and was often the first view of new travelers to Rome. In the middle of the piazza, a 118 foot Egyptian obelisk can be seen under renovation. The obelisk, which was brought to Rome in 10 B.C., is one of the oldest and tallest in Rome. The two churches, Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto can be seen on the north side of the piazza.