Levski (Левски), Bulgaria

The reality of life in Levski is a far cry from the lofty ideals of its namesake revolutionary. With a population just over 1,000, the network of secret committees Levski envisioned has long since disintegrated. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as authorities monitor each resident's activities. Though Levski's vision of religious and ethnic equality lives on, the city's tranquil rural setting may appeal more to those seeking solace than revolutionaries.