Bora Bora, often referred to as the "Jewel of the South Seas," is the epitome of tropical luxury. Nestled in the Society Islands of French Polynesia, this idyllic island is famed for its stunning turquoise lagoon, ringed by a barrier reef and dotted with overwater bungalows.
Kristiansund is a town facing the North Atlantic, on the west coast of Norway. Both its history and geographical position are unique. It is not a big town and does not have a large population, but the friendly attitude of the people who live here and their way of life, makes it a town with a big heart. Its business centre is close to green parks and small forests. The beautiful view of the surrounding mountains completes the picture.
Messina sits on the northeastern tip of Sicily, facing the narrow Strait of Messina. Its position has long made it a key port connecting the island to mainland Italy. The city is shaped by its harbor, hillside neighborhoods, and views across the water toward Calabria. Messina stands out for its role as a gateway, with active ferry routes and a layout that blends rebuilt urban areas with historic landmarks and coastal scenery.
Gotland, Sweden’s largest island, sits in the Baltic Sea and feels like a world of its own. Its main town, Visby, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Northern Europe. Surrounded by a 3.5-kilometer stone wall with original towers still intact, Visby once served as a key Hanseatic trading hub. Visitors can walk along cobbled streets lined with rose-covered cottages, explore Gothic church ruins, and climb up the city wall for views over the harbor.
Kalmar Union, combination of the crowns of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, effected at Kalmar, Sweden, by Margaret I in 1397. Because all three crowns were elective, the union could not be maintained by inheritance. Margaret's successors controlled Sweden intermittently until Gustavus I of Sweden dissolved the union (1523). Norway became independent in 1814.