Europe is a modern continent with a rich history. Roman ruins and medieval castles are testament to millennia of prosperity interspersed with conflict. Rolling green countryside gives way to dramatic mountain ranges and idyllic beaches, while museums and art galleries offer up the evidence of Europe’s culture and world renowned art.

In the west of the continent, former colonial empires such as Italy, France and Spain are now key players in the modern administrative body of the European Union, while in the east, former Soviet republics have rapidly grown in prosperity and opened up to holidaymakers.