Maribor, Slovenia

Located at the easternmost foothills of the Pohorje Massif, Maribor is Slovenia's second city of culture, commerce and education. Yet despite its position as such, the city remains small, with a modest population of around 100,000, about a third that of the capital. Despite lacking Ljubljana's sophistication and cultural appeal, Maribor still offers much to enjoy; the prevailing industrial sprawl is countered by an incoherent, yet appealing, Austrianate old core, patchworked with an elegant confection of architectural styles, colourful squares and streets, monuments and churches.

Maribor is also home to a large and exuberant Lent festival every June/July.