Last month cruise giant Royal Caribbean got into trouble by advertising a cruise that would “leave Venice (Ravenna)”; However, even the youngest geography student certainly knows that although the historical city is beautiful, it is also a two and a half hour drive away. From Italy’s floating masterpiece.
The Advertising Standards Authority has warned against further misleading campaigns, but arguably a greater crime has been committed than shortening distances on the map. Relegating Ravenna to a bracketed place (a means to a more famous end) would do a huge disservice to a beautiful destination in its own right.
And Ravenna isn’t the only city pushed aside by its bucket-list neighbor. For years, low-cost airlines have been luring not-so-smart travelers to cities miles away from advertised destinations, relegating these less-loved stars to a sad supporting role.
It’s time for these cities, which deserve greater recognition, to break free from the brackets that have restricted them for too long.
Bergamo (instead of Milan)
Italy’s fashion capital may have a monopoly on haute couture venues and designer hotels, but it’s certainly not the best-dressed city in the region. The classically styled hilltop town of Bergamo looks even more beautiful and has remained in fashion for hundreds of years.
Peel back the layers of history by exploring its many levels. A funicular tram ascends to Citta Alta, the old upper district where cobblestone streets are surrounded by Venetian walls and basilicas with gilded interiors. Leonardo’s Last Supper can be found in Milan, but its (not so nearby) neighbor’s gallery and church walls have equally impressive works to admire. Browse masterpieces by Botticelli, Bellini and Raphael at the Accademia Carrara art gallery, one of the finest collections of Italian Renaissance art.
Surrounded by lakes and mountains, this is a city dedicated to beautiful landscapes. Climb the 230 steps to the top of the 52-meter Torre del Campanone, where bells ring every night at 22:00 to remind you of the ancient city’s curfew.
To stay: The lavish Relais San Vigilio al Castello has double rooms from £186 per night, including breakfast (00 39 035 265 0987)
Beauvais (instead of Paris)
Of course, Monet, Degas and Renoir may have found their inspiration in the streets of Paris; But 80 km away and more than 150 years later, you can find painter André Van Beek making brushstrokes among the dahlias, water lilies and hydrangeas in his poetic garden in Paris. Saint-Paul is a 10-minute drive from Beauvais. This calming space is a fitting introduction to the capital of the Oise region, which is as full of romance as its stylish and flamboyant big brother.
While Notre Dame is still rising from the ashes, the Gothic Beauvais Cathedral stands literally against the skyline, luring visitors with its sparkling stained glass windows and ornate astronomical clock. Next door, MUDO (Musée de l’Oise) inside the former Bishop’s Palace may not be the Louvre, but it still houses an impressive array of archaeological artifacts and opulent works of art.
Place Jeanne Hachette in the center of the city features ornate facades, fountains and pavement cafes under awnings, while waterfront walks hugging the beautiful Le Thérain waterway are a low-key alternative to strolls along the River Seine.
To stay: Double rooms with breakfast from £122 at Hôtel Mercure Beauvais Center Cathédrale, a short walk from the cathedral (00 33 3 44 04 04 11)
Girona (instead of Barcelona)
Sticking the “Barca” sticker on Costa Brava’s airport gate was, far from being official, a sneaky marketing tactic by budget airlines that distorted reality – and it’s not only misleading, it’s downright rude.
A background for scenes in the cult fantasy series game of ThronesThe medieval walls and cobblestone streets of this Catalan city are some of the best-preserved in Europe. Pose for photos on the spectacular stone steps of the baroque Sant Domènech staircase, marvel at the perfectly symmetrical bell tower of the Monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants, and wander through the extraordinary Arabian baths (which make our own West Country thermal look like a paddling pool).
Once you’re done climbing the steep alleyways and wandering the cloistered streets of the Jewish Quarter, aim for the bright, iconic facades of the houses along the Onyar River. Architect Rafael Masó’s former family home is an Art Nouveau display of carved wooden furniture and carved glass, and is open for viewing.
Located along the golden-fringed Costa Brava and the forest-covered Pyrenees, there is also plenty of room to explore nearby nature.
To stay: Casa Cacao, a boutique hotel run by the gastronomic Roca family, offers doubles from £186 per night including breakfast (00 34 972 28 28 28)
Vasteras (instead of Stockholm)
Sweden’s capital isn’t the only city with water appeal; There are plenty of waterside activities 100km away on this lesser-known archipelago on the shores of Lake Mälaren. Beaches and boardwalks are obvious summertime attractions; When the water freezes, the area turns into a huge ice rink.
As you’d expect from a Scandi town, there’s no shortage of quirky attractions. Watch fish swim through the window at the underwater Utter Inn designed by artist Mikael Genberg, hunt ghosts at Engsö Castle (a female figure appears at 8 p.m.), or weave among the stones of Anundshögen, Sweden’s largest burial mound. Wild water swimming is also possible at various points along the coastline, but if tales of sea monsters give you the chills, soak in the jacuzzis and zoom down the slides at the eight-story Kokpunkten water park.
To stay: Located lakeside in a former power station, Steam Hotel offers doubles from £217 including breakfast (00 46 21 475 99 00)
Memmingen (instead of Munich)
It’s a bit of an exaggeration to confuse this with the beer-drinking capital of Bavaria – it’s actually a distance of 115km. Before you dash off, take some time to get to know one of Germany’s best-preserved medieval old towns. Walk over 700-year-old stones along the Kohlschanze-covered city wall and stop in front of the prison towers called Witches, Beggars and Adulterers; This gives you some clues as to the shenanigans that once occurred there.
Colorful, intricate facades at the other end of the city form the background of an unconventional Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Stop at the Fisherman’s Day fountain, built in honor of the annual July celebration when a waterway is drained and local men race with giant nets to catch the biggest trout.
There are many breweries beyond the churches, castles, palaces and aristocratic houses. Try the Barfüßer Hausbrauerei and sip a beer with Maultaschen (a type of meat-filled dumplings), or make a pilgrimage out of town to the Ursberg Monastery, where monks have been brewing bottom-fermented beers since 1623.
To stay: Joesepp’s Hotel with its own brauhaus double rooms from £85, room only (00 9 8331 9278104)