For picture-perfect whitewashed Greek towns on scenic waterfronts with patios of smiling patrons, nothing beats the laid-back island of Paros. With an exceptional selection of gorgeous beaches and historical sites to explore, the only thing missing is the crowds in this off-the-beaten-track destination. One of the country’s oldest Byzantine churches, the 4th-century Panagia Ekatontapiliani is an Old Town standout that features a tranquil garden with fragrant flowers and lemon trees.
Embraced by beautiful beaches and thousands of years of history, Kos is a tiny but mighty Dodecanese island in the wide Aegean Sea. The charming harbor town is dominated by the 15th-century Castle of the Knights, steps from the famous Tree of Hippocrates where the philosopher and native son is said to have taught. Just outside of town, further tribute to the Father of Medicine is found at the ruins of the Asklepieion, a center of healing dating to the 3rd century BC.
Blessed with sunshine, sand and an astonishing selection of historical sites, Tarragona is a rare combination of natural beauty and rich culture. Vestiges of classical Roman structures dot the length and breadth of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site known in ancient times as Tarraco. The Paseo Arqueológico takes you on a stroll along the Roman walls that encircle the Old Town.
On the southern coast of England and offshore Portsea Island stands the home of the British Royal Navy, the harbor city of Portsmouth. A proud naval heritage is evident in the Historic Dockyard where modern ships are moored alongside classics like Admiral Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, which defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar. The wreckage of Henry VIII’s Mary Rose, which capsized offshore in 1545, is displayed in a nearby museum, and on the southern tip of the island stands Southsea Castle, constructed in 1544 to defend those same waters.
The Honduran island of Roatán is a nature lover’s paradise. Beaches such as West Bay and Sandy Bay offer powdery white sand, swaying palms and aquamarine waters. Underneath the surface, the colorful coral reefs of Roatán Marine Park are home to iridescent fish, sea turtles and dolphins. For those who want to better get to know the resident dolphins, the Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences offers the opportunity to swim, play and snorkel with these intelligent mammals.
Designated a “City of Art and History,” Saint-Pierre has many stories to tell. This cultural hub of Martinique was known as the “Paris of the Caribbean” until the eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed the city in 1902. At the Frank A. Perret Museum, founded by an American volcanologist in 1933, fascinating relics, photographs and film tell the history of the catastrophe and Saint-Pierre’s rebirth.
Named for Alexander the Great, the Mediterranean port city of Alexandria is no less impressive than its founder. From the ancient to the modern, this “Pearl of the Mediterranean” strikes a perfect balance between the richness of history and the bustle of tourism and commerce. While the Great Library at Alexandria has been lost to time, the ultramodern Bibliotheca Alexandrina memorializes its predecessor in a beautiful, contemporary space where history, culture, philosophy, art and science come together under one roof.
