European capitals of culture you've probably never heard of

From Sibiu to Turku, the nominations are ever more obscure

Introduced in 1985 with the noble aim of bringing our continent closer together, the European Capital of Culture scheme offered few early surprises. That year saw Athens bestowed with the title (birthplace of democracy, fair choice), the following year it was Florence's turn (birthplace of the Renaissance, understandable), then came Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris.

The first hint of change came in 1990, when Glasgow - which, while it has plenty to offer (extravagant architecture, musical heritage, and more ballrooms than you can shake a sequin at), is a wee step down from the City of Light. Thessaloniki, 1997's Capital of Culture, was another interesting choice, but few could argue with Copenhagen (1996), Stockholm (1998), Lisbon (1994) and Bruges (2002).