Belgrade (Serbia) 5

Belgrade is a great visit and I hope the bridges that Clinton's air raids knocked down are getting restored to their old splendor.

Belgrade is one of the oldest cities in Europe, first settled in the 3rd century BC by the Celts before becoming the Roman settlement of Singidunum.

It has been the capital of Serbia since 1404, and was the capital of Yugoslavia from 1918 until 2003, as well as Serbia and Montenegro from 2003 until 2006.

Belgrade for centuries was the guardian of Christianity against the eastern hordes. The seige of 1456 when John Hunyadi and St. John Capistran (San Juan Capistrano) held out against the Turks is notable and worth a read.

It finally fell to the Turks in 1521 and was held by them for three centuries. The usual "religion of peace" Mohammedan rule caused death, devastation and darkness in Belgrade until liberation in the 19th Century.

It is now a key city in the Balkans. Full of restaurants, bars, clubs, museums and situated at the confluence of two major rivers, the city has much to offer. It is also well served by air, rail and road links, with reasonable driving distances to many European cities.

Belgrade is known for its night-life and is a magnet for young people from southern and southeastern Europe.