Life in this exuberant city revolves around its outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Site, Diocletian’s Palace. Don’t be mistaken though – this is no quiet palace or stuffy museum – it’s an elaborate ancient complex of 220 buildings that make up the beating heart of this beautiful city. Home to around 3,000 people, Diocletian’s Palace is a precious Roman gem where the locals go about their daily lives undeterred by the fact that they’re living in a historical wonder.
Sailing into the famous marina of Horta on the island on Faial is the quintessential yachting experience. This maritime town has been a mid-Atlantic steppingstone for sailors since the Age of Discovery, and today it’s a pitstop for international regattas like Les Sables-Les Açores-Les Sables. Check out the colorful wall on the marina’s breakwater – seafaring superstition states that sailors should paint a message on it to ensure divine protection for their crossing. Take a whale-watching trip or go hiking at Caldeira, a two-kilometer-wide and 400-meter-deep volcanic cone.
Pine-scented Spetses is an upscale and relaxed island that attracts more affluent Athenians than foreign tourists. With its rich seafaring culture, this little island is also hugely popular with the yachting crowd. This is one of the most cosmopolitan destinations in Greece, with beautiful Neoclassical buildings sitting on its fine squares and horse-drawn carriages roaming its pretty streets.
Dating back to 734BC, Siracusa was once one of the great ancient capitals of Western civilization. Today it’s a lively city with a charming historic center, lovely Baroque architecture and some amazing Greek and Roman ruins, like the monumental Teatro Greco at the Parco Archeologico – one of Sicily’s most impressive archaeological sites. At Siracusa’s heart you’ll find the beautiful island of Ortygia, which was first inhabited by the ancient Greeks.
Bracing and beautiful, this tiny fishing town on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence’s rugged coastline was settled by the Acadians in 1857 – which accounts for the lovely lyrical lilt of the local accent.
Beautiful beaches, picturesque villages, tranquil churches and local traditions meet Cycladic chic on Sifnos. Long known for its outstanding cuisine – the island was the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, author of the first Greek cookbook – Sifnos is growing increasingly cosmopolitan. The tranquil port of Kamares boasts some fabulous waterfront cafés, restaurants and stores along its long, lovely beach. Visit the exceptionally pretty village of Kástro, a former Venetian citadel that was built on top of an ancient town.
Sitting off Panama’s northeast Caribbean coast, Guna Yala is a stunning archipelago of 365 palm-fringed islands. An autonomous province since 1924, this intriguing, eco-conscious destination is governed by the indigenous Guna people. A paradise of white sand beaches, thatched houses and turquoise waters, life is refreshingly uncomplicated in Guna Yala. While the locals have embraced outboard motors and mobile phones, they mostly live like their ancestors did.
As the city of Carmen, Don Juan and Figaro, Seville has an undisputed reputation for theatricality and exuberance, which means that it perfectly encapsulates the intensity and passion of the Andalusian spirit. After sailing in via the Guadalquivir River Wander around the exquisite Old Town and you’ll come face to face with Baroque churches, medieval alleyways, aristocratic mansions and a majestic Gothic cathedral – the largest Gothic cathedral in the world.
Gallipoli means ‘Beautiful City’ in Greek—and this gorgeous little town on the Salento Peninsula certainly lives up to its name. Surrounded by water and accessible only by sea or via a 16th century bridge, the town’s historic heart sits on a small island that juts out into the Ionian Sea. This is a place that displays its proud seafaring heritage at every turn, and you’ll see fishermen fixing their nets at the harbor and the freshest seafood dishes adorning the menus of the Old Town.
Sitting between the mighty St. Lawrence and a vast expanse of boreal forest, Sept-Iles is a working port and the gateway to Quebec’s wild Côte-Nord. This remote region is a paradise for outdoor adventurers. Go whale-watching, kayaking or boating on the river, or spend your time hiking, lake swimming and salmon fishing at a backcountry nature reserve. Sept-Iles is also the largest town and cultural hub of the North Shore.
