Palermo, Sicily, Italy

Sitting on the edge of Europe, Palermo is a glorious mish-mash of Baroque churches, Arabesque domes, souk-like marketplaces and Gothic palaces. You’ll find yourself gazing at glittering mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, sampling cheeses at the bustling Mercato di Ballarò, viewing the largest collection of ancient anchors in the world at the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas, wandering serene subtropical gardens at the Orto Botanico or watching world-class opera at the Art Nouveau Teatro Massimo. And just when you think life can’t get any sweeter, you’ll discover a pasticceria like I Segreti del Chiostro. There you’ll sample the finest cannoli and fruit-shaped marzipan, as well as the unforgettable Fedde del Cancelliere – a magical combination of apricot jam and almond pudding encased in a marzipan clam shell.