Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

With more than 1,000 miles of coastline featuring stunning beaches to contrast with its dramatic mountainous interior, Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cagliari is the island’s ancient and present-day capital, having emerged from a long and storied past that has shifted culturally, politically and artistically over its 5,000 years of ever-changing rule. With its imposing twin towers of San Pancrazio and Elefante, the hilltop Castello district reigns high over the town below, and the ancient cobblestone streets invite you to explore the remarkably well-preserved plazas, cathedrals and palaces. From the Roman amphitheater to the Punic necropolis to the Museum of Archaeology, the Cagliari of yesterday is on display everywhere you look, while the Cagliari of today is as lively and significant as ever with its art nouveau architecture, vibrant beaches and delicious local cuisine.