MEDD

With its blend of Italian and Catalan influences, Alghero’s Old Town is breathtakingly beautiful and refreshingly unpretentious. You’ll find Gothic and Catalan architecture around every corner of this authentic centro storico. Pull up a chair in a café in the shadow of one of the city’s 16th century towers and sip a morning coffee before strolling along the pedestrianized Sea Walls, which run all the way from the Piazza Sulis to the marina. The views over to Capo Caccia on the horizon are amazing.

From the sophistication of the German Colony to the bohemian vibe of Masada Street, the bustling port city of Haifa has an eclectic energy all its own. Lose yourself in the beauty of the world’s longest hillside gardens at the Baha’ii Tropical Gardens, learn about five millennia of maritime history at the National Maritime Museum or gaze over the waters of Haifa Bay towards the ancient city of Akko from Hadar HaCarmel. Take the cable car up to Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery and hike up to Elijah’s Cave, or venture beyond the city to explore Caesarea or Nazareth.

Known as the ‘Gateway to Jerusalem’, Ashdod dates back to the 17th century BC, and over the years the Philistines, Romans and Ottoman Turks have all called it home. Step ashore and discover the world’s only Museum of Philistine Culture, or take a stroll up Giv'at Yona hill, which is said to house the tomb of Jonah. Alternatively, head inland to explore the spiritually-magnetic city of Jerusalem.

The picturesque resort of Parga offers island-style ambience and historic charm on the Greek mainland. Tiers of colorful houses, a legacy of Venetian rule, rise up over a secluded turquoise bay. In the crystal-clear waters is a tiny tree-covered islet, home only to a gleaming white chapel. From the pretty waterfront, a tangle of cobbled streets lead up to a hilltop medieval castle. The ruins overlook the bay below, the golden sands of nearby Valtos beach, orange and olive groves, and out to the Ionian Sea.

The largest town in eastern Crete, Agios Nikolaos is a cosmopolitan resort whose vibrant seaside ambience centers around three distinctive waterfronts. A narrow channel links the sea with Voulismeni, a deep lake filled with small boats and ringed with cafes, tavernas and bars. This picturesque inner harbor is the heart of Agios. A short walk south leads to the marina district. The town’s northern shores enjoy views of the islets of Mikronisi and sacred Agii Pantes (All Saints), topped by a tiny chapel.

A stunning Aegean setting and an array of sights drawn from 26 centuries of history make Kavala one of northeastern Greece’s most fascinating destinations. From atop the ruins of a Byzantine acropolis, an Ottoman castle guards the small peninsula that holds the old town, called Panagia. Cobbled streets lined with pastel-hued buildings wind up to the bastions, past churches, the Halil Bey mosque and the domed Imaret, once a religious school.

Off the southernmost reaches of the Argolis peninsula, the island of Hydra is renowned as a boater’s paradise and a rare car-free destination. Hydra Town rises up the hillsides that surround the u-shaped harbor like an amphitheater, its aquatic stage flanked by cannons. Donkeys are the lone form of transportation up the steep cobblestone lanes, as even scooters and bicycles are banned. The waterfront area is the island’s center for shopping, dining, nightlife and maritime traffic. The town also features art, history and cultural museums housed in converted 18th-century stone mansions.

The sacred and the secular share Patmos, the holy island of the Aegean where St. John is held to have written the Book of Revelation while in exile. Dominating the island, the Monastery of St. John the Theologian is a castle-like complex wrapped by the white-washed buildings of the historic Chora.

Long at the crossroads of power in the Aegean, Ikaria has a historic legacy that ranges from ancient Greeks to the Ottomans. Following 20th-century wars and hardships, the island today is deeply rooted in community and celebration, an ethos said to support the legendary longevity of Ikarians, along with a diet of local fruit, vegetables, honey, olive oil and free-flowing red wine.

With a fleet of colorful fishing boats bobbing along the quay, pastel-hued buildings and palm-fringed promenade, Sanary-sur-Mer is one of France’s most picturesque ports. The compact town, including its beaches, is easily navigated on foot but its unstudied charm is best captured over a glass of rose at a waterfront cafe. Sanary is also an ideal base for exploring Provence’s Var coast. Next door is Bandol, the coastal town at the heart of a tiny, highly-acclaimed wine appellation.