Where: Tallinn, Estonia

What: Viewing platform at Kohtu street, Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn, just 80 kilometers south of Helsinki and a regular helicopter shuttle flight away, is an exquisitely medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Swedish cash and curious Europeans have turned Tallinn into a chic urban resort with all the amenities to keep them busy for a long weekend. Still undiscovered, however, are Estonia's forests, lakes and Baltic beaches

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Little known gems are often the most precious and alluring. Estonia's ancient seacoast capital is just that kind of jewel. Tallinn, which at one time or another has fallen under Danish, German, Swedish or Czarist Russian rule, has retained more remnants of its past and in a more complete state than most other cities in Europe. The old city's inclusion on UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage List was dramatic acknowledgment of that.

This is also a city that has won worldwide acclaim for its forward-thinking, state-of-the-art services. A thriving nightlife has also sprung up in Tallinn, the center of economic and cultural activity in the country; it's also a hub for major festivals and concerts throughout the year. Amid all the advances, this inspiring city also hasn't become overly developed or refined: there's a touching genuineness to Tallinn.

Who: Photographer Andrei Bodrov of Ebeling Data and digital.tallinn

How: Taken with a Canon 300D digital SLR, Sigma Fisheye 8mm. Mounted on a Manfrotto 303SPH. Stitched with Panorama Tools.
Email: rey[at]ebeling[dot]ee