A stunning Aegean setting and an array of sights drawn from 26 centuries of history make Kavala one of northeastern Greece’s most fascinating destinations. From atop the ruins of a Byzantine acropolis, an Ottoman castle guards the small peninsula that holds the old town, called Panagia. Cobbled streets lined with pastel-hued buildings wind up to the bastions, past churches, the Halil Bey mosque and the domed Imaret, once a religious school.
Off the southernmost reaches of the Argolis peninsula, the island of Hydra is renowned as a boater’s paradise and a rare car-free destination. Hydra Town rises up the hillsides that surround the u-shaped harbor like an amphitheater, its aquatic stage flanked by cannons. Donkeys are the lone form of transportation up the steep cobblestone lanes, as even scooters and bicycles are banned. The waterfront area is the island’s center for shopping, dining, nightlife and maritime traffic. The town also features art, history and cultural museums housed in converted 18th-century stone mansions.
The sacred and the secular share Patmos, the holy island of the Aegean where St. John is held to have written the Book of Revelation while in exile. Dominating the island, the Monastery of St. John the Theologian is a castle-like complex wrapped by the white-washed buildings of the historic Chora.
Long at the crossroads of power in the Aegean, Ikaria has a historic legacy that ranges from ancient Greeks to the Ottomans. Following 20th-century wars and hardships, the island today is deeply rooted in community and celebration, an ethos said to support the legendary longevity of Ikarians, along with a diet of local fruit, vegetables, honey, olive oil and free-flowing red wine.
With a fleet of colorful fishing boats bobbing along the quay, pastel-hued buildings and palm-fringed promenade, Sanary-sur-Mer is one of France’s most picturesque ports. The compact town, including its beaches, is easily navigated on foot but its unstudied charm is best captured over a glass of rose at a waterfront cafe. Sanary is also an ideal base for exploring Provence’s Var coast. Next door is Bandol, the coastal town at the heart of a tiny, highly-acclaimed wine appellation.
Rising from the edge of Corsica’s northeast coast, the skyline of Bastia is marked by the graceful twin towers of the Church of St. John the Baptist overlooking the yacht-filled harbor of the Vieux Port. Equally imposing is the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie in the heart of Terra Nova, the walled citadel that once protected the city’s Genoese governors. Both of these areas are filled with Baroque churches and elegant plazas that are delightful places for a stroll, as is the seaside garden that lies between the Vieux Port and Terra Nova.
Puerto Plata may be best known for its over 100 kilometers of beaches. Playa Dorada, named for its golden sands, invites you to relax beside turquoise water, Cabarete beckons kite surfers and windsurfers alike, and Sosua Beach is the perfect place for snorkelers, with its crystal-clear waters and rich submarine ecosystem. More adventures can be found inland by taking the teleférico, or cable car, to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres for breathtaking views over the lush landscape that descends to the sea.
On the sun-drenched southern coast of Cyprus, Limassol – Lemesós in Greek – is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with a richly atmospheric historic center. A dense tangle of narrow streets and lanes lined with restaurants, cafes, shops and sights like the cathedral and Grand Mosque extends from the old port and a restored medieval castle. Graced with fountains, palms and reflecting pools, a grand promenade extends for miles along the waterfront, connecting the modern marina district to the Old Town and urban beaches to the east.
Italo-Slavic heritage and contemporary Croatian culture mix effortlessly in the northern Adriatic town of Rovinj. Colorful palazzos and historic buildings fill its beautiful Venetian-era Old Town, where you’ll find the Baroque Church of St. Euphemia. Climb its 60-meter-tall bell tower for spectacular panoramic views of the city, the Istrian Peninsula and the Rovinj archipelago. Linking the older and new districts, Tito Square is the lively town center, and home to a landmark clock tower, arch and museum.
Vis is a rare undeveloped Adriatic island, the unexpected result of decades under Communist Yugoslavia military control. Since Croatian independence, tourism has emerged slowly, with few hotels, no resorts and limited ferry service. Quiet beaches, secluded coves, clear blue seas and verdant landscapes of wild scrub, vineyards and olive and citrus groves are the principal attractions. The island’s few sights include a small archaeological museum, some 17th-century Venetian architecture and a fascinating network of WWII-era tunnels and hideouts used by Tito and his partisan forces.
