MEDD

The approach to Menorca reveals white houses clinging to rocks with a historic town rising above one of the world's largest natural harbors, used as a port since the 3rd century BC. King Island floats halfway in, featuring ruins of a 6th-century basilica. The streets of Menorca present an interesting blend of ancient treasures, such as the medieval wall of San Roque Arch and the relics in the Museu de Menorca, and more recent gems, including the grand Georgian homes that remain from the British occupation of the island.

Medieval hilltop towns spread out across the undulating countryside where tall, slender cypresses march like sentinels past rolling vineyards. Iconic names like Chianti, Brunello and Vino Nobile are celebrated the world over, but the art and architecture of Tuscany may be the region’s biggest draw. Just a few hours from Livorno, you can visit Florence: the cradle of the Renaissance, beloved by great thinkers like Dante and Galileo, and utterly captivating.

One of Europe's favorite playgrounds, Ibiza boasts more than 100 miles of coastline frosted with exquisite beaches. It's a hub of sun worship, white sand, beach bars and clubs that buzz all night. And there's history too. The fortified Old Town, known as Dalt Vila, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a spectacular example of Renaissance military architecture. Carrer del Calvari leads to Portal Nou, the entrance through the old city walls, and a walk up the hill reveals panoramic views of the city.

Super yachts crowd the harbor and waterside bars hum with wealthy vacationers and young partiers in this posh island getaway with a laid-back Mediterranean vibe. The island of Hvar is famous for its lavender fields, vineyards, year-round sunshine and nonstop nightlife, but it’s also rich in culture and history. Near the harbor stands a Benedictine convent where nuns fashion lace as part of a 150-year-old tradition recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

This British Overseas Territory on Spain’s southern coast is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, fondly called The Rock. For spectacular views, take a six-minute cable car ride to the top, where you can see two continents, two bodies of water and three countries. A short walk brings you to the Gibraltar Nature Reserve and the cheeky Barbary macaques, the famous monkeys that roam freely here. Other highlights include the illuminated stalagmites of St.

It was English poet Lord Byron who famously described the great walled city of Dubrovnik as “the pearl of the Adriatic” and George Bernard Shaw stated that “Those that seek paradise on earth should seek it in Dubrovnik.” Red tiled roofs and a backdrop of green hills contrast sharply with the spectacular blue of the Adriatic. Thick medieval walls wrap around beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. This UNESCO World Heritage site played a central role in the TV show Game of Thrones.

History oozes from every corner of Corfu, an island prize coveted by a succession of maritime powers since the Peloponnesian War in the 4th century BC. But who can blame them? This Ionian idyll is the greenest of all Greek islands, swathed in orange and olive groves and endless beaches bathed by a cerulean sea. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Old Town of Corfu includes the magnificent Esplanade, where you can watch a game of cricket from a sidewalk café. There are also beautiful palaces, castles and archaeological sites to explore.