Padua, a hidden gem in Northern Italy’s Veneto region, is a city where medieval splendor meets a vibrant modern atmosphere. Known for its ancient university, founded in 1222, Padua is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the world, having nurtured the minds of great scholars like Galileo Galilei.

Often called the Eternal City, Rome stands alone as Italy's most visited destination. The third most populated city in the European Union, Rome boasts ancient sites, yet has a modern flair — an exhilarating mix of the Old World and the new.

Pilsen, located in the western part of the Czech Republic, is renowned for its rich history and vibrant cultural scene. The city is best known as the birthplace of Pilsner beer, a name synonymous with the iconic pale lager that has become a global standard.

Just south of Kyoto, Osaka is one of Japan’s largest cities and a cultural hub known for its spectacular culinary scene. Highlights of this sprawling and lively city include majestic Osaka Castle, whose tiers of white and green tower over Nishinomaru Garden’s blooming pink cherry trees, as well as the Shitennoji Buddhist temple, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and ever-popular Universal Studios Japan.

Farther from a continental landfall than any other group of islands on earth, the twelve Marquesas jut out of the open Pacific just south of the equator, shrouded in a constant cloud cover.