Taormina (Naxos), Sicily, Italy

Nestled on the beautiful Sicilian coast, Taormina is most famous for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico di Taormina, the world's most dramatically situated Greek theater. Nearby cliffs drop to the sea forming coves with sandy beaches. The city center is filled with 15th-century stone palaces and churches, and pedestrian-only Corso Umberto is the spot for people watching, shopping, fine dining or a gelato. Strung along the bay below Taormina is Giardini Naxos, a picturesque seaside resort on the site of the most ancient Greek colony in Sicily. Of course, many visitors make the trek inland to magnificent Mount Etna, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for a hike through the foothills or a walking tour of the upper crater. On the north slope is the often overlooked but incredibly scenic waterfalls and rapids of Alcantara Gorge, a great place for hiking or cooling off with Sicilian locals.