Vigo, Spain

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Vigo is simultaneously a quaint historic town and a world-class industrial port – it delights in both dimensions. The name Vigo comes from the Latin vicus, meaning small village, and yet this biggest city in Galicia is home to the world's largest fishing fleet. The keel was laid in Vigo for the inaugural luxury yacht of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in January 2018. Meanwhile, ancient Vigo lives on in the Old Town, home to stately stone buildings and the underground remains of the ancient city wall. Monte del Castro rises in the city center where Vigo was first settled.

Venice, Italy

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One of the most enchanting cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Venice rises from a lagoon on more than a hundred tiny islands linked by the iconic network of canals. A romantic gondola ride provides the perfect introduction to the city, gliding underneath the Ponte di Rialto – the oldest and most famous of Venice’s hundreds of bridges – and past the ornate palaces lining the Grand Canal. The power and wealth of the Venetian empire are on display at Piazza San Marco, the city’s most splendid square, where stands the grand St.

Valletta, Malta

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A UNESCO World Heritage site, Valletta is a diminutive city packed with history. Sailing into the harbor is an experience in itself, as the dome and spire of competing churches rise above the cluster of limestone façades and formidable ramparts. Built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, Valletta is architecturally Baroque in character, with Mannerist, neoclassical and modern elements as well. It’s easy to navigate the city on foot and take in sights such as the City Gate, National Museum of Archaeology, Grand Master’s Palace and St.

Valencia, Spain

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The distinctive cityscape of Valencia harmoniously blends centuries of architecture. The first stone of Valencia Cathedral was laid in 1262, and one of the chapels holds a chalice purported to be the true Holy Grail. Meanwhile, the Plaza del Mercado provides a delightful contrast between the art nouveau Mercado Central and the Gothic architecture of Lonja de la Seda, a former silk exchange and UNESCO World Heritage site. Moving into the 21st century, the City of Arts and Sciences was designed by renowned Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2005.

Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

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Sheer cliffs and waterfalls carve Streymoy, the largest of the 18 Faroe Islands and home of Tórshavn, the capital and largest town of the archipelago. The old town of Tinganes was the home of the Faroese parliament for over a thousand years; the prime minister’s office is still located here. Stroll along narrow alleyways lined with black-tarred houses with grass roofs, some dating to the 14th century, and look for mysterious rock carvings believed to relate to ancient council meetings. But most of the pleasures involve the natural landscape.

Tobago Cays, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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The Tobago Cays are an eco-paradise of pristine, aquamarine waters, sparkling white beaches and amazing wildlife in the southern Grenadines. A cluster of five uninhabited cays and the surrounding barrier reefs protect seabirds, native plants, iguanas, sea turtles, colorful hard coral and tropical fish. Tobago Cays Marine Park can only be reached by a boat, which can anchor in a sandy-bottomed lagoon. From here, snorkeling and diving explorations reveal a vibrant underwater world. In the Baradal Turtle Sanctuary, get close to green and hawksbill turtles in their natural habitat.

Terre-de-Haut, Les Saintes, Guadeloupe

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Les Saintes are a volcanic archipelago of two islands and seven uninhabited islets surrounded by thriving coral reefs and clear seas. Small at just over two square miles, Terre-de-Haut is the most developed of the group, thanks to an anchorage-rich coastline of scenic bays, natural harbors, quiet beaches and charmingly picturesque villages. The ambience is decidedly low-key, and days are devoted to beachgoing, hiking, snorkeling and diving.

Taormina (Naxos), Sicily, Italy

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Nestled on the beautiful Sicilian coast, Taormina is most famous for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico di Taormina, the world's most dramatically situated Greek theater. Nearby cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. The city center is filled with 15th-century stone palaces and churches, and pedestrian-only Corso Umberto is the spot for people watching, shopping, fine dining or a gelato. Strung along the bay below Taormina is Giardini Naxos, a picturesque seaside resort on the site of the most ancient Greek colony in Sicily.