Adriatic Empires & Malta

With a maze of canals threaded through the city and hints of history to be found on every corner, it’s easy to see why Venice is considered one of the most beautiful and charming destinations in the world.

On the western peninsula of Croatia, just south west of the city of Rijeka Croatia, lies the beautiful town of Opatija. Anyone visiting the area will instantly understand why this small Croatian village of just 8,000 inhabitants is so popular. With its breathtaking views over the Adriatic towards the Kvarner Islands and up towards the Istrian mountains in the distance, Opatija really is a place of natural beauty. It is an ideal holiday resort, with its lovely mild climate, extensive beaches and 43-kilometre coastline. The European elite frequented the town for many centuries, earning it the well-deserved title, "The Adriatic Nice".

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Lined with Baroque buildings and enclosed within its sixteenth century city walls, it’s almost as if time stands still in Valletta. With 7,000 years of history just waiting to be discovered, the Maltese capital is a dream to explore.

Now a sun-bleached provincial capital, Siracusa was once one of the most prestigious cities in the known world. Founded in the 8th century BC by settlers from Corinth, Siracusa gradually grew in prestige to rival Athens and was considered the western capital of Magna Graecia. In the Greek world dictators, often called tyrants, exercised unlimited power over colonies like Siracusa. Although often unpleasant people, they also often patronized poets and artists and competed to bring intellectuals to their courts. Siracusa was home to Archimedes, Plato and Aeschylus during its height of power and prestige. Today's visitors come to marvel at the remains of the ancient structures, reminders of the past glory and rich history of the area. The city is superbly situated at the head of a beautiful bay and enjoys a mild climate. The coastline to the south is renowned for its beauty, clear waters and evocative, mythical scenery. There are romantic abandoned coves and wide, sandy beaches not easily matched anywhere else in Italy.

Founded around 710 BC, Crotone was long one of the most flourishing cities of Magna Graecia, an area of Southern Italy extensively colonized by Greek settlers. Today, visitors enjoy the fruits of this port city's rich history, including Cortone's medieval cathedral, the 16th century castle of Charles V, as well as numerous museums and art galleries. Picturesque beaches invite a leisurely stroll followed by a carefree negroni at a nearby bistro.

This important port on Southern Albania curls around a superb natural harbor, dominated by the hilltop 16th century Lekuresi Castle with distinctive round towers. In the town center are the ruins of a 5th century synagogue, later a Christian basilica, with remnant mosaic floors. Another picturesque ruin is the Forty Saints Monastery from the 6th century, which is thought to have been an important pilgrimage site. But the main attraction in southern Albania is the archaeological site of Butrint, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with extensive ruins of communities dating from prehistory, though the Greek and Roman eras, as well as the Byzantine period, until the medieval period.

On the western coast of Montenegro, tucked away from the Adriatic Sea, is the ancient town of Kotor. Beyond its snaking stone walls, this fortified city offers a charming glimpse back in time.

Vodice is a popular seaside town on the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea. It has the familiar red-tiled roofs and wide stone seaside promenades of other Dalmatian ports. In the town, there are several interesting features. One is the old Church of St. Cross dating from 1402, and the newer, baroque Parish Church of St. Cross from 1746, with a tall bell tower. The Church of St. Elijah is even older, dating from 1298. There are several popular pebble and sand beaches around Vodice. Outside town are a pair of fields with archaeological remains of Roman era occupation, including walls, cisterns, wells and fortifications. Each field also holds a small church. The Coric Tower is a fortified manor built by a powerful family during the mid-17th century to protect against Turkish attacks. From Vodice it is also easy to access the seaside town of Sibenik, the waterfalls and pools of Krka National Park and the offshore islands of the Kornati National Park.

Located on the tip of Istria, Slovenia's main port was an island until the 19th century, but local history goes back much further. Called Aegida by the Greeks, Capris by the Romans and Justinopolis in Byzantine times, Koper was the influential city in the Venetian Empire and five mayors sat on the throne of the Venetian doges. Today monuments of this Golden Age line the cobblestone streets of an Old Town that boasts a wealth of architecture, cultural monuments and intriguing shops.

With a maze of canals threaded through the city and hints of history to be found on every corner, it’s easy to see why Venice is considered one of the most beautiful and charming destinations in the world.