If you have dreamed of visiting the canals of Venice, Italy, but aren’t overly thrilled about having to contend with the large crowds that flock to the beautiful coastal town of Italy, you may want to think about visiting Bruges, Belgium instead.  Located less than an hour away from the capital city of Brussels by train, the small town of Bruges is frequently voted as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe because of its breathtaking canals, unique and wonderful architecture, long and interesting history, and tasty cuisine.  The city of Bruges might be small, but it is home to more castles per square inch than any other country on this planet. In fact, roughly 50 of the 470 castles that are found in the Flanders region are located around Bruges.