Bastia, Corsica, France

Rising from the edge of Corsica’s northeast coast, the skyline of Bastia is marked by the graceful twin towers of the Church of St. John the Baptist overlooking the yacht-filled harbor of the Vieux Port. Equally imposing is the Cathédrale Sainte-Marie in the heart of Terra Nova, the walled citadel that once protected the city’s Genoese governors. Both of these areas are filled with Baroque churches and elegant plazas that are delightful places for a stroll, as is the seaside garden that lies between the Vieux Port and Terra Nova. Stop into a market for Corsican cheese and charcuterie complemented by local wine before heading further afield to discover the mountainous beauty and picture-perfect beaches of Cap Corse, the lush promontory on which Bastia is situated.