Explore Venice's ancient palaces, galleries, and modern exhibits; walk among masterpieces, catch an opera, admire medieval buildings, and blow Murano glass. Drift the Grand Canal by gondola past churches, convents, and campi, cross hump-backed bridges, and reach Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, and the Doge's Palace. From palazzos to perfumeries and the Bridge of Sighs, beauty is always moments away in this liquid-gold city.

Explore Zadar: historic walls and city gates, a treasure of architecture and natural beauty. Hike, ride, or climb through national parks; cruise pine-lined rivers, swim beneath cascades, and spot dragonflies over emerald pools. Walk the Monument to the Sun, follow paths to turquoise shallows, and hear the Sea Organ. See Venetian towers, old wells, and the Romanesque Cathedral, or climb the bell tower for wide views. Sunlit, Venetian, and famed for a glorious sunset, Zadar is a true cultural gem.

Marvel at this chic walled city of palazzi, ancient forts and epic Adriatic views. Enter Pile Gate to wander alleys, squares, museums and baroque churches. Kayak around the ramparts, taste Dalmatian wines in Konavle, and visit Cavtat and Mostar. Escape to cacti-clad Lokrum for yoga and walks, or dine on the rocks. No wonder the glitterati flock to this charming medieval Dalmatian marvel.

Athens doesn't live in the past. Glamorous and forward-looking, it blends galleries, gelaterias, bijoux boutiques, and museums with the wonders of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Wander lively streets and markets, dance at bouzoukia, sing in tavernas, then head to the harbour for dimly lit bars and cold beer. With salty air and fishing boats setting out at dawn, Athens feels both ancient and progressive.

Explore history, culture, and carpets in western Turkey: walk in Cleopatra's steps to the Roman ruins of Ephesus, dedicated to Artemis, amid monuments, shrines, columns, and ruins. Then visit Pamukkale's sacred thermal pools, where pilgrims seek healing and reflection. Travel to Orthodox villages blending Turkish-Greek culture, taste organic filo, feta, and spinach, and learn about Turkish weaving, natural dyes, looms, and the making of carpets and kilims.

Syros lies just across from Mykonos, but feels a world away from its hedonism. Far from sleepy, its capital Ermoupoli-once the Aegean's mercantile heart-is an elegant neo-classical city buzzing with Greek life. Explore marble boulevards to Vaporia, with preserved merchant palaces, waterfront cafes, and the Apollo Theatre. Also visit Ano Syros, a Venetian hilltop village crowned by San Giorgio, plus fishing villages, sandy shores, and quiet coves.

Explore Bari Vecchia, a maze of medieval lanes, Romanesque churches, Baroque palaces and Greek, Roman and Norman history. See nonnas making orecchiette, the basilica with Saint Nicholas's relics, the 1170 cathedral, Norman fortress and harbour theatre. South are some of Italy's best beaches, especially Polignano a Mare. Bari also suits trips to Alberobello's trulli and cinematic Matera, with cave dwellings and chic restaurants.

Explore a UNESCO maze of marble lanes and creamy stone houses shaped by Romanesque, Baroque, and Renaissance styles. Visit the Gothic town square, the city's social heart since the 13th century, see St. Lawrence Cathedral, climb its Bell Tower for panoramic views, and wander Kamerlengo Fortress. Continue to Split's Diocletian's Palace and UNESCO old town, then hike Krka National Park's waterfalls and clear lagoons.

Explore Venice's ancient palaces, galleries, and modern exhibits; walk among masterpieces, catch an opera, admire medieval buildings, and blow Murano glass. Drift the Grand Canal by gondola past churches, convents, and campi, cross hump-backed bridges, and reach Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, and the Doge's Palace. From palazzos to perfumeries and the Bridge of Sighs, beauty is always moments away in this liquid-gold city.