Venice is a timeless floating city of canals, bridges and masks, where a lagoon of 100+ islands invites you to travel through history. Drift by gondola or vaporetto past the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge, then slip into quiet side streets away from the crowds. In Piazza San Marco, see St Mark's Basilica, the Campanile and the Doge's Palace, linked by the Bridge of Sighs. Take island trips to Murano for glass, Torcello for cathedrals, and Burano for lace and bright painted houses.

Koper, Slovenia's oldest town, blends Venetian old-town charm with a sunny Istrian port vibe. Once an island, it was linked to the mainland in 1825 and is now the country's main port. At its heart is Tito Square, the Cathedral of Assumption with its 1664 bell tower, and cobbled Čevljarska Ulica with shops, bars, and restaurants. Nearby Ljubljana offers parks, boulevards, and the Ljubljana River, while Bled Castle rises from a tiny island on an alpine lake.

Split, on the sunny Dalmatian Coast, is a romantic Adriatic city built around Diocletian's Palace, a vast Roman monument and living historic heart. Beyond its stone walls, the old town mixes bars, restaurants and quiet corners. Highlights include St Domnius Cathedral, the palm-lined seafront, Marjan Hill, Sustipan, nearby Hvar and Brač, Krka's waterfalls, and UNESCO-listed Trogir.

Bari, Puglia's historic port and Adriatic gateway, offers a glimpse of everyday life in Italy's unpretentious south. Stroll Bari Vecchia's crooked lanes, past pasta-making doorways and old men playing cards, then see the Cattedrale di San Sabino and the seafront Lungomare. Eat focaccia, orecchiette, olive oil and ricotta. Use Bari as a base for Lecce, Alberobello's trulli, Salento's beaches, Matera's caves, and Polignano a Mare's dramatic beach.

Kotor, Montenegro, is a fortified old town set between Lovćen mountain and the Adriatic at the end of the Bay of Kotor, Europe's southernmost fjord. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it has Venetian-era stone streets, terracotta roofs, cathedral towers, and thick walls. Quieter and often more authentic than Dubrovnik, it's known for cats, the maritime museum, cafés, and the 1,350-step climb to St John's Fortress for sweeping bay views.

Sorrento's sun-faded facades spill from green hills to the Bay of Naples, making it a great base for the Amalfi Coast and Capri. Yet the town itself has rustic charm: Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, San Francesco's cloisters, and small beaches and harbours. Nearby, Vesuvius and Pompeii recall ancient destruction and the frozen casts of its victims. Finish with Neapolitan pizza, local wines like Taurasi and Lacryma Christi, and limoncello.

Rome is one of the world's most thrilling cities, with unmatched history around every corner. Its streets mix ancient ruins with lively cafés, piazzas, and restaurants serving pasta and pizza. Highlights include the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Vatican City, and the Spanish Steps. Best explored on foot, gelato or espresso in hand, Rome offers a powerful blend of grandeur, beauty, and everyday life.

Livorno, a historic port and beachy gateway to Tuscany, offers sunset views from Terrazza Mascagni, canals in "Little Venice," markets, fortresses and waterfront charm. From there, explore Tuscany's vineyards and Bolgheri wineries, Prato's textile heritage, Pisa's tower, and Florence's art-filled wonders: Michelangelo's David, the Duomo, and Piazzale Michelangelo.

Portofino is an exclusive, glamorous town on the Italian Riviera, set on a protected peninsula. Its harbour fills with yachts, while pastel waterfronts, stone streets, and terrace bars create an elegant atmosphere. Surrounded by green hills, vineyards, and olive groves, it's best enjoyed by boat or from the Piazzetta with aperitivo. Highlights include Ligurian wine, focaccia con il formaggio, San Giorgio, and the white lighthouse at the tip of the headland.

Encircled by dramatic medieval walls above deep-blue waters, Alghero is one of Sardinia's most spectacular old towns. Its cobbled streets, rich history and strong Catalan influence give it great character, while nearby Coral Riviera beaches add to its appeal. Explore the fortified old town, Alghero Cathedral and the Baroque dome of Chiesa di San Michele, then enjoy seafood, porcetto, mirto and pecorino. Relax at Spiaggia di Maria Pia, with pine-scented breezes and coral-rich shores.

Ajaccio, Napoléon Bonaparte's island birthplace, is rich in history and charm, with statues, boulevards, and a relaxed Mediterranean vibe. Set between blue sea and snow-capped peaks, it offers the National Bonaparte Museum in his birth house, the Cathedral Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption with his baptismal font, nearby Îles Sanguinaires, and Plage de Capo di Feno. Try wild boar in red wine, lobster, fiadone cheesecake, and Corsican polyphony.

Built around a sheltered bay beneath Mount Faron, Toulon is a major naval port, industrial city, and base of the French navy's Mediterranean fleet. Napoleon first rose to fame here in the 1793 siege. In WWII, the French fleet was scuttled to avoid capture, and the city was liberated in 1944. Old Toulon's pedestrian streets, waterfront Avenue de la République, and Naval Museum are main sights, though many visitors use the city as a base for the Riviera and hinterland.

Monte Carlo offers old-world glitz and modern luxury in tiny Monaco: superyachts, champagne bars, high-end shops, casinos, opera, and palatial hotels. Famous for low taxes and the Formula One Grand Prix through its tight streets, it's a playground of the rich and famous. Don't miss the Royal Palace, the cathedral where Grace Kelly married in 1956, the old town, and the historic fortress.