Parga, Greece

The picturesque resort of Parga offers island-style ambience and historic charm on the Greek mainland. Tiers of colorful houses, a legacy of Venetian rule, rise up over a secluded turquoise bay. In the crystal-clear waters is a tiny tree-covered islet, home only to a gleaming white chapel. From the pretty waterfront, a tangle of cobbled streets lead up to a hilltop medieval castle. The ruins overlook the bay below, the golden sands of nearby Valtos beach, orange and olive groves, and out to the Ionian Sea. The views are even more beautiful from a mountainside Ottoman fortress outside of town. Parga is also an ideal base for exploring the smaller islands of the Ionian archipelago and the archaeological sites, scenic villages and natural beauty of northwestern Greece.