A city is defined not by its madness, but by its grace.
Graz is the capital of the Steiermark (“Styria”), an Austrian federated state bordering Slovenia. Despite being landlocked, Graz has a Mediterranean feel about it. There are children playing in fountains, restaurants serving wines from Styrian Tuscany, and hidden courtyards bathed in sun. University students from Slovenia sprawl across the park grass and charge along the river on their bikes.
Graz was spared from much of WWII bombing, leaving its historical bones nearly intact. You’ll find everything from a 15th century cathedral to a 19th century opera house to a 21st century alien. Many of these buildings are home to splendid museums and irritable peacocks. In 1999, the entire city was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.