Ramnicu Valcea, Romania

Capital City

At just over 93,000 residents, this Romanian city is no bustling metropolis. In fact, Ramnicu Valcea's provincial charms come with their fair share of challenges. The bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the climate - a humid continental bordering subtropical - can be a test of one's patience. Yet the city's historic roots dating back to Dacian and Roman times lend it a certain rustic appeal. Whether this small urban center is the right fit depends on one's tolerance for red tape and a continental climate.