Situated on the northern shore of Lake Zurich, Switzerland's largest city is surely among the most beautiful in Europe, large enough to offer a cosmopolitan escape to its visitors and small enough to discover on foot. Founded in 15BC as a Roman customs post on the site of what is now Lindenhof, it didn't acquire town status until the 10th century. The year 1519 saw the beginning of the Reformation, the influence of which is still strong; Zurich is a staunchly Protestant - some say Puritan - city. During the 19th century, Zurich became the trade and business center that defines it still. It retains much of its 19th -century charm and is a clean, polished place free from pollution because the factories run on electricity.

In certain places it's a rowdy, throbbing metropolis, and in others - especially in the Old Town - the narrow streets are peaceful and leisurely. A surge in tourism in the past 2 decades has led to a lively entertainment scene. It's also long been a center of liberal thought, attracting such scholars as Lenin, Jung, and James Joyce. Built between the wooded slopes of the Uetilberg and the Zurichberg, this city of parks and gardens is split by the River Limmat. Take time to walk along the quays, watching as sailboats take visitors across Lake Zurich. The Alstadt, or Old Town, is one of the most intriguing in Switzerland, with two giant cathedrals and dozens of picturesque and interesting streets. The variety of scenery will catch you unawares!