Melbourne (pronounced Mel-bun), the capital of Victoria and Australia's second-largest city, with a population well over three million, is a cultural melting pot. For a start, more people of Greek descent live here than in any other city except Athens. Chinese, Italian, Vietnamese, and Lebanese immigrants have all left their mark. In fact, almost one-third of Melburnians were born overseas or have parents who were born overseas. With such a diverse population, and with trams rattling through the streets and a host of stately European architecture surrounding you, you could easily forget you're in Australia.

Melbourne has a reputation of being at the head of the pack when it comes to shopping, restaurants, fashion, music, nightlife, and cafe culture. It frequently beats out other state capitals in bids for major international concerts, plays, exhibitions, and sporting events, such as the Formula One Grand Prix.

The city also revels in a healthy rivalry with its northern neighbor, Sydney, but it's interesting to note that almost every Melbournian adores their city -- often described as the "most livable" in the world -- whereas Sydneysiders are mostly half-hearted in their praise for their own abode.

Melbourne's roots go back to the 1850s, when gold was found in the surrounding hills. British settlers took up residence and have since prided themselves on coming freely to their city, rather than having been forced here in convict chains. The city grew wealthy and remained largely a conservative bastion until World War II, when another wave of immigration, this time mainly from southern Europe, made it a more relaxed place.