Bantry is a market town on the northern shore of Bantry Bay in County Cork, where the coast opens toward the Atlantic Ocean. The town is surrounded by wooded hills, farmland, and a sheltered bay dotted with islands and peninsulas. Its harbor remains an important feature, while the main square and streets contain shops, cafés, pubs, and other local businesses serving the surrounding communities.
Playa del Carmen, located along Mexico’s Riviera Maya, offers more than just soft beaches and turquoise waters. Once a quiet fishing village, the town has grown into a lively hub where Mayan history meets a modern beachside lifestyle. Visitors walking along Quinta Avenida will find artisan shops, street performers, and cafes offering everything from espresso to tacos al pastor. This area becomes especially active in the evenings when live music spills out from local venues.
This southern Mexican state borders Guatemala. Its mountainous highlands and dense rainforest are dotted with several Mayan archaeological sites and Spanish colonial towns.
Porto Venere is a small coastal town on the Ligurian Sea in eastern Liguria, set on a rocky peninsula at the entrance to the Gulf of La Spezia. Its waterfront is lined with brightly colored houses, narrow lanes, and a small harbor, while steep cliffs rise behind the historic center. Offshore, the islands of Palmaria, Tino, and Tinetto form part of the same protected coastal landscape.
Lake Como, nestled in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, offers a sublime retreat with its stunning landscapes and elegant charm. Renowned for its crescent shape and crystal-clear waters, Lake Como is framed by lush hills and dramatic mountain scenery. The lake's picturesque towns, such as Bellagio and Varenna, showcase charming cobblestone streets, historic villas, and lush gardens.
Trabzon was founded in the 7th century B.C. by Milletain colonists. On entering the city, on a green hill descending to the sea, is a well-preserved 13th century Byzantine church, now the Avasofya Museum. The walls of this church are decorated with frescoes, some of the finest examples of Byzantine craftmanship. The higher part of the city, the old quarter, inside the still extant fortifications with its timber houses, should be visited.
Other Popular Destinations in Turkey
Istanbul
Istanbul is a city built on layers of empire. Spanning two continents, it was once the capital of three major empires: Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. Visitors walking through the Sultanahmet district can witness this timeline firsthand, from the Roman-era Hippodrome to the Byzantine mosaics of Hagia Sophia, and the towering minarets of the Blue Mosque. At nearby Topkapi Palace, rooms still display the jeweled swords, ceremonial robes, and handwritten Qurans once used by Ottoman sultans.
Çanakkale
The city of Canakkale lies at the narrow, 1,200 meter entrance to the Canakkale Strait that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. To honor the 500,000 soldiers who lost their lives at Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the peninsula was made into Gelibou Historical National Park.