port

On the eastern coast of Crete lies the island’s capital and largest urban center, Heraklion. A lively port city on the surface, millennia of history lie beneath its modern facade. Turkish fountains lie within the modern bustling city center and Venetian buildings and Minoan fortresses transport visitors back in time. See Minoan art and artifacts at the Heraklion Archeological Museum and explore the impressive Koules fortress for a view of Heraklion’s past before roaming the city’s plazas.

Situated on the heel of Italy’s boot overlooking the glittering Adriatic Sea, Brindisi is a natural port carved into a region known for its whitewashed marble and peaceful beaches. There’s much to explore along the picturesque harbor, from the rudder-shaped Monument to Italian Sailors, which you can scale for panoramic views, to the red stone Castello Alfonsino at the tip of a small island overlooking the channel.

Set along the scenic Turkish Riviera, Alanya is a resort town on the central Mediterranean coast with long stretches of powdery beaches, the most famous of which is named for the Egyptian queen who reputedly swam there. The white sands of Cleopatra Beach slope gently down into crystal blue waters where you could easily spend an entire day, although there is much more to Alanya than its shoreline. The ancient walls of Alanya Castle stretch for miles along a high promontory offering exceptional views of the modern city of Alanya below.