Alghero, Italy

Beautiful Alghero, with its mix of Italian and Catalan influences, has just the right portions of medieval history, fine architecture and pasta. Add a few stunning beaches and you have one of Sardinia’s most treasured ports.

Enclosed by ancient honey-colored seawalls, the old town is a charming enclave of shady cobbled lanes, Gothic palazzi and cafe-lined piazzas. Try some delicious Sardinian fare cooked over an open fire in one of the medieval palazza. Or a cozy rustic trattoria that specializes in Catalan fare, like pernil (ham) and formatge (cheese). (They’re both fabulous.) At sunset, have a cocktail along the sea wall and listen to the Mediterranean crashing below.

There’s also Neptune’s Cave to explore. Located at the base of a sheer cliff, it’s a fantastic cavern filled with water pools, stalactites, and stalagmites. Or visit the beaches nearby - Sardinia is known as the land of 1000 beaches and some of the most beautiful are right here in Alghero.