Mediterranean Europe Travel Guide
The Mediterranean is one of the cradles of civilization, offering visitors an incredible range of cultural, historic and seaside attractions. The Greeks and Romans both created their empires around this massive sea, establishing a roster of ancient sites that seems endless. Warm dry weather and sunny skies makes the Mediterranean a popular travel destination any time of year.
For many travelers, the Greek Islands such as Santorini come to mind when imagining cobalt seas and whitewashed fishing villages. But the lesser visited islands of Malta, Crete and Rhodes are even more ancient and just as impressive. Turkey also has a handful of beautiful historic coastal towns and islands more off the beaten track.
There’s plenty to do along the Mediterranean if you’re well-heeled. Exclusive enclaves like Monaco, San Marino, Andorra and Gibraltar are yachting havens catering to the wealthiest of the wealthy. France’s Cote d’Azur is also a hot Mediterranean spot if you want to hang with the rich and famous.
However, there’s more to the European Mediterranean region than just water and sand. Sure, most visitors make a point of staying along the coast, and every country has an excellent array of seaside resort towns. But if you tire of the sea, simply head inland and a whole other world awaits.
Italy isn’t as popular as it used to be, but it’s hard to beat the treasures of Rome and the Vatican, or the romantic canals of Venice. Fashion-conscious Milan buts right up into the stunning Dolomite mountains and on to the Alps. Spain and Portugal are also fascinating destinations. Cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, and Salamanca offer different perspectives on Spanish culture.
Greece has plenty of ancient sites from its golden era, as does Turkey, whose capital Istanbul remains one of the most alluring and mysterious places on earth. Olive groves, vineyards and timeless villages containing the remnants of the first great Western empires lay mostly forgotten and ready to be rediscovered.
But it may be that tourism newcomers Croatia, Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and Macedonia capture the imagination and wallets of adventurous travelers. Croatia’s beautiful Dalmatian Coast is just one blossoming site to consider.
