Dresden, located in the east of Germany, is also called “Florence at the Elbe” thanks to its idyllic location on the banks of the river. Most of the city’s well-known historic landmarks are located in the Altstadt. Although 80 percent of Dresden’s historic center was destroyed in World War II, important landmarks have been rebuilt to their former splendor. The baroque Zwinger Palace boasts a picturesque courtyard, often filled with camera happy tourists. It was destroyed by the Allied raids, but restored in the 1960s. Dresden is truly a city of magnificent resurgence and exploring it by foot is the perfect way to get in touch with so many different aspects of the old, the new and the restored.

credit: donald judge

The whole region of Tuscany is a marvel of nature and full of historical heritage.Florence is the capital of the Toscana region, which you probably know of because of its world famous wine and beautiful landscapes. Florence is widely referred to as the “cradle of Renaissance” because of its architectural and cultural heritage, impressive signs of which can be found all over the place. It is located between Milan, Venice and Rome. Florence is rather small with its population of around 380.000. There is no way to cover all of Florence during a day trip! Your one day in Florence must start early in the morning and after all the tours and museums you can leave the city at night time. The trains are running almost until midnight. Another option is to sleep one night in Florence and enjoy a bit more of the city.

credit: Dr Korom