The largest and least-visited of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix enchants travelers with its unspoiled white-sand beaches, coral reefs, lush tropical landscapes, protected parks and organic farms. Its two relaxed main towns showcase the island’s unique Danish heritage. On the west coast you’ll find Fredriksted, a tiny, tidy grid of a town with a seafront that stretches between an 18th century fort and a wildlife refuge at Sandy Point.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Colombia’s oldest city sits in the foothills of the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains – the world’s highest coastal mountain range. Check out stunning jewelry from the Nahuange and Tayrona periods in the city’s Museo del Oro, which features in the Gabriel García Márquez novel, No One Writes to the Colonel.
Italy’s ‘City of Flowers’ simply overflows with Riviera-style grandeur. Ostentatious villas and grand hotels line the sun-kissed streets that have been attracting Europe’s aristocratic elite for over a century. The city has managed to retain all of it’s early 20th century glamor – an age when it was the playground of choice for people like Russia’s Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Soak up a sense of the city’s sumptuous past in the old squares of the La Pigna neighborhood or head out of town to explore the artist colony at Bussana Vecchia.
The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is at the heart of a stunning land-and-marine park between mainland Italy, Corsica and the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas. The main town of Portoferraio sits on a hill, its 16th century fortifications still visible today. Napoleon was famously exiled here, but Mother Nature is Elba’s real attraction. Along the rocky coastline you’ll find numerous gorgeous small bays, coves and beaches, while in the mountainous interior you’ll discover endless hiking trails that showcase the island’s rugged beauty.
