SIBIUL IN MEDIA

8) sibiu, Romania

Built in the 12th century, the Romanian citadel city of Sibiu is an ideal destination for history buffs. Still boasting many of its original fortifications, visitors can walk through mazes of stone staircases and archways to explore the area's rustic architecture. Stop by Grand Square to visit Brukenthal Palace, a majestic 18th-century Baroque mansion that houses one of the oldest museum collections in the world.

The only sound I could hear was the rhythmic thud of my shoes on time-worn stone. Every now and then, a solitary black cat would catch up to me looking for attention, the only sign of life or activity in the area.

Sibiu, Romania

This pedestrian-friendly town has an upper level full of historic spots and lower level complete with homes on cobblestone streets. No wonder it was a European Capital of Cultural in 2007.

Journey to Sibiu, Romania, with our correspondent

Mari-An C. Santos, and soak in the culture of her second hometown in Transylvania – with Count Dracula safely out of sight.

Saxon colonists dispatched by the Hungarian king Geza II founded Hermannstadt in the 12C on the banks of the River Cibin. A stroll down from the upper town to the lower town reveals this medieval settlement’s character: vaulted passageways, fortified doorways, a maze of little streets and squares. This Baroque city of colourful façades nicknamed "Little Vienna" is surely Romania’s most beautiful.