An enormous pig sculpture presides over farm fields of aromatic herbs, luring passers-by for a photo op.

Where the past produces a place in modern times

Geneva is rich with history.

John Calvin, whom you might think was a beer brewer considering the way his image is used on bottles and billboards, was a Reformation leader who pushed to turn the city into a "Protestant Rome" in the 16th century.

Well before that, the city was shaped by occupying Romans－a grand mosaic depicts the arrival of Julius Caesar on a fine white horse.

The city is also the birthplace of the Red Cross, which still calls it home, along with many humanitarian organizations. The League of Nations was based here after World War I, and it's an important regional center for the more successful United Nations today.

If you go

Swiss airline offers direct connections from cities on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong to Zurich with easy connections to Geneva. Many airlines connect various Chinese cities with Zurich with a single stopover.

The currency is the Swiss franc, though euros are widely accepted and dollars easily exchanged. Many ATMs accept UnionPay cards.

Swissotel Metropole Geneva

34 Quai General Guisan

+41 022-318-3200

Geneva Pass

Covers museum admissions and much more. It's available for 24, 48 and 72 hours from the tourist office, top hotels and online.

Guide

Gianna Loredan offers travel and business services, including terrific city walking tours, though her company Illico. www.illico-travel.ch