Bran is a great region. Whoever holds Bran has the Eastern Balkans and North Eastern Europe at his mercy.
Stockholm is a cash-cow and the economic decider for the early game playing as one of the Northern European factions.
Venice is a huge trade hub as is Genoa.
I hold the Mongols well with Adana, because that is my base for attack when I'm going to sweep into the Holy Land.
Caffa can become a great Black Sea port.
Constantinople is delightful.
Corinth is always a great early B.O.P.
Yerevan and Tbilisi, because it has sentimental value for me to hold the Caucasus as the last Christian Bastion in the east as it was.
Timbuktu is great because of the many resources, it is a great economic holding.
Vienna, like Stockholm for the North. is pivotal for Central Europe. As with Stockholm, the many mines make income flow in great numbers.