The best cities in Europe for hiking

Fall is the perfect time to travel. Old buildings, castles, atmospheric neighborhoods, and street musicians. All these things add color. The only thing left to do is choose where to go. We'll tell you what locations you can't miss below.

Florence, Italy

It is located in the Tuscany region of the Florentine province. It is the birthplace of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante Alighieri, and Galileo di Vincenzo. John the Baptist is the patron saint of the city.

We advise you to start your trip from Santa Maria del Fiore, the hallmark of Florence. It was repeatedly depicted in miniatures of the Middle Ages and on Baroque engravings. The paintings "The Lamentation of Christ" and "Mary Magdalene" are kept here. There is also an observation deck on the dome from which you can admire the surroundings.

Next, walk along the Ponte Vecchio, a bridge over the Arno River. It was built in 1345 on the site of an old wooden crossing. By the way, it looks especially fabulous in the evening.

Also, visit the Palazzo Vecchio. At first, it served as a defense structure, and later as the residence of the Medici family. We recommend paying attention to the inscription above the front door – "Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords". It was made of marble.

The courtyards were decorated by the masters Andrea del Verrocchio, Giorgio Vasari, and Michelozzo. The rooms on the second floor were decorated with tapestries and frescoes. In particular, the terrace of Saturn, Hercules, Jupiter, Penelope, etc.

Riga, Latvia

The political, economic, and cultural center of the country. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic Sea. By the way, the historical part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to legend, life here was in full swing back in the XII century.

First, go to the Konventa courtyard. It is located between Skārņu and Kalēju streets. It was once the domain of the Order of the Knights Templar, and later the hospital of the Holy Spirit. To this day, the Church of St. George, the oldest building in Riga, has been preserved here.

On the Town Hall Square, visit the House of the Blackheads. The monument was founded in 1334. Merchants met here with German burghers. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Gothic attraction was rebuilt in the Mannerist style.

And, of course, visit the open-air ethnographic museum. There are more than 118 historical buildings here that were collected from all over the country. Tourists will see fishermen's huts, peasants' yards, and a Latvian farm. They will also make clay objects and weave a basket.

Handmade souvenirs and products from local farmers can be found in the Kalnciema Quarter.

Hamburg, Germany

The largest non-capital city in the European Union. It is located at the beginning of the mouth of the international Elbe River. By the way, it has even more bridges than Venice, Amsterdam, and London combined. It also has a large maritime museum.

We recommend starting your trip with the Hamburg Art Gallery. Its total exhibition area is more than 13 thousand square meters. It houses the paintings of the artists Caspar David Friedrich and Philipp Otto Runge. And in the Engraving Room there are countless sheets of paper.

Next, take a stroll along the Gateway to the World wharf, the country's largest port. It was founded by Frederick I of Barbarossa in 1189. Also visit the Eekholt Wildpark. It is home to more than 700 species of animals. In particular, deer, wolves, moose, foxes, donkeys, etc. The center was founded in 1970.

Porto, Portugal

It is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The patron saint is the Virgin Mary.

First, go to the Ribeira district. It is famous for its colorful facades and balconies with flowers. It is also home to the Don Luis I Iron Bridge. It was built in 1886. It connects Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia, the center of world port wine production.

Also, visit the Church of St. Francis. Its construction lasted from 1233 to 1400. Here travelers can see the altars, unique vaults, and columns made of wood. By the way, they are all covered with gilding. It took more than 370 kilograms of precious metal to decorate them.

And, of course, visit the Lello bookstore. It was built by Portuguese engineer Francisco Javier Estevez. If you go up to the upper floors, you will find an atmospheric cafe. It is reached by an unusually shaped staircase.

Madrid, Spain

It is located in the central part of the Iberian Peninsula. There is a legend that the city was founded by the ancient hero Ocnius, the son of the god of the Tiber River.

We recommend starting your walk at the Palacio Real de Madrid, the official residence of the Spanish royal family. Today it hosts receptions, ceremonies, and other events. Here tourists can visit the museum and admire Madrid from the observation deck.

Plaza Mayor is the central square of the capital. The famous bakery house is located here. At the end of the XV century, a bakery was set up here. It was used to supply pastries to the king's court. Now the city archive is kept here.

We also recommend visiting the Parque del Buen Retiro. In 1887, the Crystal Palace was built here. The building was made of metal and glass. Tropical plants and flowers grow inside. There is also an artificial lake on the territory.

Explore European cities. They hide many more interesting attractions!

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