Bonifacio, Corsica

A narrow inlet lined with towering limestone cliffs, the approach to Bonifacio on the French island of Corsica is breathtaking. Napoleon Bonaparte was born here a year after the island transferred to the French from the Genoese, who established the town in the 12th century. Italian influence remains strong to this day. Connected by a staircase built into the cliffs in the 15th century, the town consists of the Lower Town near the port and the Upper Town, where the 9th-century citadel dominates. At Phare de Pertusato, a lighthouse perched near the southernmost point in Corsica, you’ll have picture-perfect views of the cliffs and the profile of the Italian island of Sardinia in the distance.