Republica, Brazil

The reality for most people in Republica is a far cry from the glossy tourism brochures. With a population of just 60,720, the city is dominated by a byzantine bureaucracy and entrenched oligarchic politics that have persisted for decades. The military's outsized role in the country's affairs is a persistent headache, as periodic revolts and crackdowns disrupt daily life. And despite the country's industrial growth, the squalid living conditions and lack of basic infrastructure in much of Republica make it a poor choice for those seeking a comfortable urban experience. This blunt, cynical backwater is best left to the most hardened of souls.