Athens is a majestic, ancient city where elegance meets grit: highways wrap around ruins, museums and galleries stand beside street art, and its legacy spans philosophy, drama and democracy. See the Acropolis and Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, Mount Lycabettus views, and the Old Olympic Stadium. Beyond the center, beaches and temples line the coast. Slow down for Greek coffee and souvlaki.

Milos is a Greek island in the SW Cyclades, Aegean Sea, 86 nautical miles from Piraeus and midway to Crete. It covers 151 sq km with a 125 km coastline. Adamas, its main port, is a seaside village of white houses founded in 1835 by refugees from Sfakia, Crete. With its large, safe natural harbour and strategic position, Adamas became historically important. It has beaches, tourist services, old churches, and mining and ecclesiastical museums.

Nafplion, Greece's first capital, is a beloved seaside escape for Athenians and one of the country's most romantic towns. With beaches, clear water, fortress-backed hills and a blend of Greek, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman charm, it offers a lovely old town, seafront promenade and tavernas. Highlights include Palamidi Fortress, Acronafplia, and the offshore Bourtzi fortress. Nearby Corinth is an ancient city recovered after earthquakes.

Valletta, on Malta's Sciberras Peninsula, is a compact Baroque capital ringed by massive defensive walls. Built by the Knights of St John, it holds grand palaces, churches, and the flower-filled Upper Barrakka Gardens, where noon cannon fire echoes across the harbor. St John's Cathedral hides a lavish gold interior and a Caravaggio. Nearby are Mdina's car-free medieval streets, the Hypogeum and Tarxien, and Fort St Elmo. Malta gained independence in 1964 but still shows strong British ties.

Lipari, just north of Sicily, is the largest of the Aeolian Islands. Its flower-painted streets, sunny laid-back mood, blue sea, and volcanic scenery make it a sensory delight. Relax at Havana Beach, hike for views of Stromboli, visit a winery for local wines and foods, and explore Lipari town's archaeological museum and the salmon-pink Cathedral of San Bartolomeo. Don't miss Lipari Castle, whose steep walls crown the island.

Perched above the sparkling Tyrrhenian coast in southern Italy, Agropoli charms with its medieval old town, narrow lanes and sweeping sea views. This laid-back gateway to the Cilento region offers a taste of authentic Campania, where coastal scenery, traditional cuisine and nearby archaeological treasures combine for an appealing shore visit.

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.

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.

Nice's sweeping blue bay still enchants visitors with sun, sea and sophistication. Elegant boulevards, grand buildings, parks and floral displays give the city timeless charm, while the Promenade des Anglais offers a spectacular seafront walk. The old town, flower market on Cours Saleya, Italian influence, Russian Orthodox church, and Colline du Château views all add to Nice's allure.