Athens, cradle of Western democracy, offers a living link to antiquity. Climb the Acropolis to see the Parthenon, Temple of Nike, and Erechtheion caryatids, then visit the Acropolis Museum for original statues and artifacts. The National Archaeological Museum is also outstanding. In the Agora, follow the footsteps of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Hippocrates, and Pericles. Finish in Plaka with its winding lanes and lively tavernas.

Amorgos is a stylish but low-key eastern Cyclades island with secluded beaches, world-class dive sites, and scenic coastal trails. Inland, Hora offers classic Cycladic charm with narrow streets, squares, and whitewashed buildings. Don't miss the dramatic 10th-century Monastery of Hozoviotissa, clinging to a cliff above the Aegean. In the evening, relax in Katapola or head to livelier Aigiali.

Witness sailing into Santorini's volcanic caldera, where ochre, gray, and pink cliffs rise from the sea. Visit whitewashed Fira, dotted with blue-domed churches, shops, tavernas, and a museum, then hike the Caldera Trail to Oia for stunning views. Also explore wineries, black-sand beaches, or Akrotiri's Minoan ruins, and end with assyrtiko wine and a famous sunset.

Chania, Crete's former capital, sits beneath the Lefka Ori mountains. Its heritage spans Byzantine monasteries, medieval churches, and Turkish baths. In the Old Town, the Venetian harbor features a lighthouse and colorful waterfront palazzos, with nearby alleyways full of cafés, galleries, bars, and restaurants. Visit the Archaeological Museum or the ruins of ancient Aptera above Souda. In the evening, try Cretan tavernas or the lively harbor bars.

Taormina, on Sicily's coast, is famed for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico, a dramatically sited Greek theater. Its old center has 15th-century palaces and churches, and pedestrian Corso Umberto is ideal for strolling, shopping, dining, or gelato. Below lies Giardini Naxos, a seaside resort on Sicily's oldest Greek colony. Nearby are Mount Etna, a UNESCO site, and the scenic Alcantara Gorge for hiking and cooling off.

Amalfi charms with its sunlit Piazza del Duomo, winding alleys, Byzantine-influenced cathedral, and small beach. Nearby Atrani, one of Italy's most beautiful villages, offers ancient churches and whitewashed lanes for a quiet day. Visit the magical Grotta dello Smeraldo for its emerald waters, and don't miss Pompeii, where you can walk Roman streets and enter ancient houses and temples.

Rome is a vivid blend of sound, movement, history, and art. Church bells and traffic echo off ancient stone as workers, tourists, and café crowds move through the city. From the Colosseum and Roman Forum to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome's monuments are world-famous. Its sculptures, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, and Bernini's fountains make its art and architecture unsurpassed. Rome belongs not only to Italy, but to the world.