Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania

Capital City

With a population of just 79,865, Drobeta-Turnu Severin may seem like a sleepy backwater. But don't be fooled - this ancient Roman city on the Danube is a persistent bureaucratic headache. Centuries of occupation by Hungarians, Ottomans, and Romanians have left a tangled legacy of overlapping administrations and petty officials. And while the mild climate allows for exotic flora like magnolias and ginkgo trees, the harsh winters can be a slog. Overall, Drobeta-Turnu Severin is a place for the tenacious, those willing to navigate its complexities in exchange for a unique window into Romania's storied past.