Szczecin: 4 Aug 2007 to 5 Aug 2007

This multi-cultural port on the Baltic has been ruled at various times by Slavs, Poles, Swedes, Prussians and Germans. Once the capital of the Dukedom of Western Pomerania, Szczecin remains an important cultural center—its fine Maritime Museum traces the region’s seafaring history back some 2500 years, while the National Museum celebrates Pomeranian art and culture from medieval times. Rebuilt after being heavily bombed during WWII, Szczecin today is an appealing city with shady parks and peaceful lakes within its boundaries.