Porto Venere, Italy

Sitting in a magnificent location at the end of a promontory with the Cinque Terre coast on one side and the Gulf of Poets (La Spezia) on the other, Porto Venere enjoys the kind of tranquility that its more hectic neighbors can only dream of. And with its pastel-hued tower-houses, picturesque harbor and poetic associations, it’s every bit as enchanting. Spend a morning exploring the rocky terraces of the Grotta di Byron - named because Lord Byron once swam from there to visit the Shelleys in San Terenzo. In the afternoon, take a stroll up to the 16th century Castello Doria and the Gothic Chiesa di San Pietro. Later in the day, dine on local dishes like scabeccio (marinated fish) and watch the locals participate in their traditional passeggiata (evening stroll).