Siena is a great example of a Tuscan Hill Town. Although similar to many other towns in the surrounding area, Siena stands out thanks to the many architectural sites within the historic center. The vast majority of the buildings are from the 12th to 17th centuries. It has one of the best preserved historic centers in all of Europe.
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I can’t think of any other city on earth that was founded the way Split, Croatia was. The historic core of the city is actually the remnants of the Palace of Diocletian. The modern street plan of the city still reflects the original walls, rooms, and hallways of the palace 1700 years later. Although there was a small settlement in the area before the palace was built called Spalatum, the vast majority of Split’s history from the days of the Roman Empire to about the 15th Century revolves completely around Diocletian’s Palace.
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It’s hard to find a city with a history as complicated and dynamic as Avignon. One of only two cities on earth that can claim to be the headquarters of the Catholic Church, the other being Rome. Avignon was a medieval center of art, learning, and architecture, but was still constantly overshadowed by greater rivals such as the Franks and the Holy Roman Empire. Throughout the centuries, it has remained a truly unique place. Today Avignon is the 45th largest city in France according to numbers from 2013, but despite its smaller size is still a top tourist destination.
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