Austria's culinary capital hiding in plain sight
Graz is Austria's second city and its best-kept secret — a UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of pastel-painted baroque palaces and a covered market where Styrian pumpkin-seed oil, smoked ham, and Zotter chocolate compete for shelf space. The Kunsthaus Graz (the "Friendly Alien") sits beside an intact Renaissance clock tower, and the city's café culture rivals Vienna without the tourist crowds.
Graz has been the capital of the Duchy of Styria since the 12th century and served as the Habsburg's southern stronghold against Ottoman incursions. Its Schlossberg fortress was never taken by Napoleon — the city paid a ransom to keep it standing — leaving its 28-metre clock tower as Austria's most intact hilltop landmark.