port

Beautiful and bold, Istanbul stands astride the continents of Europe and Asia. Start your day with a silky Turkish coffee before making your way to the Byzantine basilica of Haghia Sophia. With its gold mosaics and awe-inspiring dome, this is one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Follow this with a visit to the Blue Mosque, the grand project of Sultan Ahmet I, and a tour of the harem at the opulent Topkapi Palace. In the afternoon, take a boat trip between Europe and Asia or practice your haggling skills at the colorful Grand Bazaar.

Often referred to as ‘Turkey’s Best Kept Secret’, the windswept island of Bozcaada has a decidedly unhurried vibe. Draped in vineyards and adorned with deserted beaches, it luxuriates in its easy-going Aegean attitude. Spend a contented morning wandering through the cobblestoned streets of the Greek Quarter or climbing up to the port’s enormous medieval castle, which is one of the largest citadels in the Aegean. Watch the fishermen haul in their daily catch, sample the local wines at the Amadeus or Corvus Vineyards, or simply opt for some down-time on a secluded beach.

The volcanic island of St. Vincent offers a diverse array of natural wonders. Waterfalls cascade down cliffs into tranquil pools surrounded by lush green interior. Botanical gardens reveal the island’s history and natural beauty. Hike the Vermont Nature Trail in search of the rare St. Vincent parrot, or head to remote Wallilabou Bay, where scenes from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed. Hop the ferry to the nearby yachting paradise of Bequia and relax on the golden sands of Princess Margaret Beach, or stay on St.

Kick off your day in this dynamic economic and cultural hub with a shot of Moroccan espresso at a street café before heading to the mighty Mosquée Hassan II. From the street, this enormous mosque – which can house 25,000 worshippers inside and a further 80,000 in its courtyard – appears to float upon the ocean. Alternatively head to Ain Diab to spend a lazy afternoon at a sophisticated beach club. Next, take a stroll along the white-washed lanes of the Old Medina to the downtown district and surround yourself in the magnificence of Mauresque and Art Deco architecture.

Long expanses of golden sand lining crystalline waters welcome visitors to this coastal Caribbean town on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Just offshore from the pristine beaches, colorful coral teems with tropical fish at Banco Chinchorro, a biosphere reserve with a number of shipwreck sites that attract snorkelers and divers alike. Equally enticing is the abundance of ancient Mayan ruins found just inland from Costa Maya.

Sitting in a magnificent location at the end of a promontory with the Cinque Terre coast on one side and the Gulf of Poets (La Spezia) on the other, Porto Venere enjoys the kind of tranquility that its more hectic neighbors can only dream of. And with its pastel-hued tower-houses, picturesque harbor and poetic associations, it’s every bit as enchanting. Spend a morning exploring the rocky terraces of the Grotta di Byron - named because Lord Byron once swam from there to visit the Shelleys in San Terenzo.

Sitting on the edge of Europe, Palermo is a glorious mish-mash of Baroque churches, Arabesque domes, souk-like marketplaces and Gothic palaces. You’ll find yourself gazing at glittering mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, sampling cheeses at the bustling Mercato di Ballarò, viewing the largest collection of ancient anchors in the world at the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas, wandering serene subtropical gardens at the Orto Botanico or watching world-class opera at the Art Nouveau Teatro Massimo.