Domain: Boundary in the Architectural World: Power Rankings: European Adventures

Top Rankings of Overall Destinations I Have Visited

Being an avid sports fan and constantly paying attention to the "experts" analysis of who the best teams are in the various leagues at any given time, I thought it would be fun to construct a similar list of my own pertaining to the places I have visited so far in Europe. This is the last installment of these rankings, which have now turned final after the completion of my semester abroad.

I would like to preface your viewings of these rankings by saying that with the few exceptions of those at the bottom of the list [14-16], and even those mostly as a result of the experience I had there more than the place itself, looking back on my trip there is no way that I would have missed out on, or changed, the trips that I decided to take. Every location had its spectacular moments and sites that I would call "must see's and do's" even though I know that isn't possible for most looking to travel to Europe for a shorter time span. I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to spend as much time in Europe, and see as many places, as I did. These rankings merely reflect my personal opinion on ranking each location based on the scenery, monuments, and most of all experience I had while visiting each given place.

This page also contains the compilation of my best photographs from my various trips which have been enhanced using some editing techniques. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

On to the rankings!

1. Split, Brac, Krka [Croatia] [New Entry]

A lesser known location than many of those I visited, the towns of Split, Brac, and Krka Croatia manage to pack more natural beauty into the world than any other, and as such, found a way to snatch the top spot in my final European power rankings. Whether it was exploring the town of Split, relaxing on its harbor beaches, island hopping in the Adriatic Sea, going on the most extensive bar crawl of my European stint, or visiting the absolutely gorgeous water falls of Krka, Croatia left not a single moment unfilled with pleasure. I cannot help but hope that some day I get to fulfill my new dream of venturing up the Adriatic, off the coast of Croatia, in a yacht not dissimilar to the one seen in the picture below. Croatia's natural beauty grabbed my heart and I am positive it would do the same to any other interested in traveling there. Croatia is well deserving of the coveted number one ranking.

2. Positano & Capri [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 1]

Bumped from the top spot by the various cities of Croatia, the combination location of Capri and Positano settles in comfortably at the number two spot in my rankings. With their abundance of water, beautiful sunny weather, natural rock formations and sand and rocky beaches Positano and Capri have everything to offer for those looking for a relaxing getaway in Italy or anywhere in the world. Whether it was tasting limoncello, riding the chair lift to the top of Capri, playing soccer on the island, swimming or cliff jumping in the crystal clear blue water, or just chilling out on the beach there was not a moment I did not love during my time in Positano and Capri and they are well deserving of the number two spot in my European rankings.

3. Barcelona [Spain] [Previous Ranking: 3]

Coming in at third in the final power rankings is Barcelona. Serving as the location for most of Gaudi's best works [including Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Mila and Casa Batlo], Barcelona is a city full of color and unique form architecture within an entirely ninety degree grid city. Although getting lost walking around the city is inevitable, there are an abundance of attractions to see even if you don't really know for sure what it is you are looking at. If you are more into the palm trees and beaches type city, Barcelona has this too, containing an extensive harbor as well. Finally, the nightlife I encountered in Barcelona was unlike any experienced elsewhere and definitely takes the crown for the best club location. Barcelona truly has it all and is well deserving of the number three ranking on my European destination list.

4. Florence [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 4]

Florence maintains its number four spot in the rankings despite the new addition of Croatia, mostly due to the beautiful weather at the end of my stay and the sentimental value it gained as we prepared to leave Italy to return to the United States. Serving as home base here in Europe for myself, Florence is a city that certainly cannot be overlooked as a fantastic spot to visit, both in Italy and Europe as a whole. Florence is the home of numerous famous churches such as the Florence Duomo, S. Croce, S. Lorenzo, and S. Maria Novella, as well as an abundant amount of important artwork and sculpture such as Michelangelo's statue of David in the Accademia Museum, and the famous Ponte Vecchio. Although I, unfortunately, take much of what Florence has to offer for granted due to me living in the city for over four months, it is a city which should definitely not be overlooked by those looking to travel to Europe and should be appreciated by all. Looking back on my stay in Europe there is no place I would have rather resided in than Florence, and it is well deserving of the number four spot in these rankings.

5. Venice [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 2]

Although Venice may not have the well known attractions other places have such as Rome, Barcelona and Paris, or the amazing coastal experience places like Positano and Capri can offer, the city had a charm to me personally that has still not quite been overshadowed to this date, even by those previously mentioned powerhouse cities and beautiful landscapes. From its unique Venetian cuisine, crystal blue water, colorful canals and Mediterranean style culture, Venice had everything I could have asked for it to offer for a three day trip. Call it bias if you wish due to my likeliness to be partial to boats, water and the beautiful weather we encountered there, but Venice is much deserving of the number five spot in these rankings.

6. Salzburg [Austria] [Previous Ranking: 5]

Salzburg took a small fall in the rankings due to the many beautiful trips I had at the end of the semester, but is still a must see location in Europe. Although in theory Salzburg and Venice are polar opposites in what the cities are like, Salzburg was very much the Venice of Austria for me. While Salzburg did not have the many various destinations and places to go that Vienna did, it had a certain charm to it that could not quite be matched by Vienna. Situated in the heart of the Austrian Alps, snowy Salzburg captured a part of my heart much like Venice did in Italy. Although again a partial bias of mine, [as many of you probably know I am one of those crazy characters who actually like snow a lot] I think Salzburg has all the characteristics you should be looking for out of a mid-February trip in Europe and is well deserving of its location at number six on this list.

7. Rome [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 6]

Positioned in the number seven spot is the location I have visited thus far with the most to see from an architectural stand point. From the Ara Pacis museum by Richard Meier to St. Peters Basilica to the Vatican Museums to the Roman Forum to the Colosseum to the MAXXI museum to Parca Della Musica to the Roman Olympic Park and to all of the monuments of the Baroque style, Rome has so many wonderful monuments to see. Without a doubt, anyone who has any interest in history at all would love to have the opportunity to visit Rome, and I am convinced that even those who are not interested in architecture at all would still be wowed by the cities numerous monuments. Rome is an architects paradise and provided a fantastic first major trip for myself in Europe.

8. Paris [France] [Previous Ranking: 7]

Paris, France proved to be difficult for me to place in the field of these rankings due to the dichotomy of feelings I had for the city as a whole. Paris has so much to offer in the amount of things you can do while there and the amount of notable places there are which you simply must visit in the city. The problem I come across in ranking Paris is the fact that I just did not care that much for the city in general, at least in comparison to some of the other locations we have been. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Palace of Versailles, Villa Savoye, The Louvre and much more make Paris a must stop destination for anyone wishing to travel around Europe, especially those interested in architecture and art like myself, but I simply cannot manage to place Paris higher than the eighth spot in the final rankings.

9. Mostar [Bosnia] [New Entry]

Where to even start with the city of Mostar, Bosnia? An entirely unknown location to most people in the United States, I traveled to Mostar as a side venture on my Croatia trip, against my father's wishes. Fortunately I have not a single regret about that. Despite the warnings to stay out of nearby fields because there are still active land mines which remain from Bosnia's civil war in the mid-1990's, Mostar is a beautiful place with Eastern European culture and influence, which I had yet to experience in Europe in any large capacity. The half day or so I spent in Mostar, Bosnia was well worth the bus ride and extensive stop at border patrol, and is also deserving of the number nine spot in these final rankings.

10. Vienna [Austria] [Previous Ranking: 8]

The city of Vienna was another with a large quantity of attractions to see right within the city center. The vast majority of these attractions were, conveniently, able to be visited throughout the course of a morning walking tour which I was on including important sites such as the Vienna Secession building, the Vienna Opera house and St. Stephens Cathedral. The subway station in Vienna was also very organized and simple to navigate, making the trip more enjoyable and easy. It will be interesting to see how my thoughts of the Vienna trip develop over time, but for now Vienna takes home the number ten ranking.

11. Milan [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 9]

The city of Milan has much to offer for those interested in fashion and the arts. With its extensive shopping district including the world famous Galleria and with famous pieces of artwork such as da Vinci's Last Supper and Michelangelo's final Pieta sculpture there is definitely not a lack of high profile places and things to visit. Milan takes home the prize for best pizza in Italy for me, it was so good that I had it three time in my three days there, and it also receives the number eleven spot in these rankings.

12. Assisi [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 10]

Although the hilltop town of Assisi is likely more fit for a billy goat than myself and required only a day trip to visit, it was quite a unique location which I certainly would not pass up on. Well known in Italy as a pilgrimage town being the location of the origin of the Franciscan order, there are many various churches to visit along the way to the top of hill where the Assisi fortress and 360 degree views of all around the town of Assisi are present which make the climb to the top well worth it.

13. Pompeii [Italy] [Previous Ranking: 11]

Although Pompeii merely managed to grab the thirteenth spot in these rankings, it was a phenomenal place to visit due to the extensive Roman ruins which are present there. For someone like me who is extremely interested in architecture, Pompeii is the perfect place to visit. Unfortunately, the only real thing to visit in Pompeii is Pompeii and it does not require any more time than the approximately four hours which we spent there. Definitely do not leave Pompeii out of your plans if a trip to Italy is in your future, but I would recommend visiting on your way to or from a better overall destination.