Salina

Salina is an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, located in the Aeolian Islands archipelago, north of Sicily. Archaeological excavations have revealed the presence of populations dating back to the Bronze Age as well as an alternation of periods of complete abandonment and others of strong development.

Two volcanoes rise majestically on either side of Salina, giving it an impressive appearance when seen from the boat. On site, the hospitality of the inhabitants, the many activities, the beaches and the gastronomy guarantee an unforgettable and relaxing stay.

Populated by less than 1,000 inhabitants, the city of Santa Marina is nonetheless the capital of the island. It hosts one of the two ports where ferries dock and is an ideal base to start your visit to Salina. Admiring the majestic Pollara cliff is one of the must-do things in Salina. At the end of the day, you will watch the sunset from the lighthouse, on the heights of the village.

To visit Salina is also to discover a varied fauna, and in particular many species of birds. The most easily observed are the buzzard, the kestrel and the imperial raven. On the west coast and the slopes of Pizzo del Corvo, you may be lucky enough to spot a specimen of the Queen's Falcon. One of the few falcons in the Mediterranean, it lives almost exclusively on the Aeolian Islands.

Sperlonga, south of Rome (140 km) is a beautiful village located on a promontory by the sea, with charming Mediterranean streets and steps.

Its sandy beaches are among the most beautiful in Lazio, especially on the road to Gaeta. They are popular in summer, both by Romans and Neapolitans. Indeed, Naples is about 145 km further south.

Sperlonga is located on a rocky outcrop, the last part of aurunci, which juts out into the Tyrrhenian Sea and Gulf of Gaeta flowing into Monte di San Magno. The sandy and white sand beaches, alternating with different rocky cliffs that plunge into the sea, forming beautiful bays, often only accessible by boat.

In the area there are traces of human activity from the Upper Palaeolithic.

According to tradition the city was in Sperlonga Amyclae, founded by Spartans.

Famous for the ruins of a summer retreat of Roman emperor Tiberius, this Latina coastal town also has beautiful beaches and a quaint historic quarter.

Spend time meandering around Sperlonga's Centro Storico, a cluster of narrow cobblestone lanes, stone archways and twisting staircases. Find antique shops, boutiques, tavernas and wine bars set inside stacked whitewashed houses. Piazza Fontana and Belvedere Sperlonga offer nice sea views. More great views await at Torre Truglia, a defensive tower set above Sperlonga Port.

The city of Taormina is undoubtedly one of the Sicilian jewels. Placed on a cliff 200 meters high on the edges of Mount Tauros, Taormina is a jewel accosted on a natural terrace. Founded in 403 BC. C by Greek exiles from the island of Naxos, the ancient colony of Tauromerion.

Taormina is in itself a balcony over the Mediterranean with different viewpoints, all magnificent: the panoramic view of the bay of Naxos with Etna in the background; the view from the Roman theatre; the views from the streets overlooked by the cliff on which Taormina leans, etc.

The streets are the main tourist asset of the city, with the architectural tastes of the Iberian past, the Aragonese occupation, then Castilian and Spanish. Porta Messina overlooks the main street of Taormina, il Corso Umberto I, full of fashion boutiques, souvenirs, flea markets, terraces and balconies dressed in flowers.

At the foot of the cliffs that shelter Taormina begins the sea. Sandy beaches are the “no mans land” between land and the Mediterranean. Just opposite the Isola Bella stands like an offbeat fragment. This small island is conquered by land at low tide. A narrow path allows you to reach it from the beach. A little further on the Gorges de Alcántara, -a quite bizarre basaltic formation-, form a narrow passage that could allow us to get away from the crowds and, above all, to remember that Etna sleeps with its fragile sleep, while close.

Treviso is one of the most charming and less visited towns in Veneto. The historic center of Treviso is small and charming and reminds us of the city's ties to the Republic of Venice. Treviso is a beautiful city to visit any time of the year. The Quiet City operates at a slower pace, making it a perfect escape from big city life.

Among the outstanding monuments there is the Cathedral which contains, inside the Malchiostro Chapel, the famous frescoes by Pordenone and the Annunciation by Titian. The Museum of Santa Caterina dei Servi di Maria houses other artistic treasures, including the collection of stories of Sant'Orsola di Tommaso da Modena and some works by G. Bellini, Lotto, Tiziano and J. Bassano.

Although overshadowed by neighboring Venice, Treviso too hides a network of canals and a maze of medieval streets sheltered by its historic defensive walls. The newer parts of the city are home to many museums and restaurants where you can taste Treviso's specialty: tiramisu.

Monumental ensemble from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and restored after the Second World War, Treviso is completely surrounded by ramparts built at the beginning of the 16th century by the Venetians who made Treviso one of the bastions of their hinterland for defense against the Cambrai league. The lion of the Republic of Venice is visible on several points of these walls and on the three historic gates of the city.

Tropea is a municipality in the province of Vibo Valentia in the Calabria region. It is located in the extreme southwest of Italy. The most spectacular site is certainly the Church of Santa Maria dell'Isola, located on its rock overlooking the blue sea. It dates from the Byzantine era and is the symbol of the city. The village faces it, perched 50 meters above sea level. It houses a beautiful 12th century cathedral, the Duomo, built by the Normans. You can also see palaces from the 17th and 18th centuries, built by great Aragonese families, in particular Via Boiano.

The city is perched on top of an imposing cliff, in the Gulf of Saint Euphemia, which faces the Tyrrhenian Sea. This stretch of coastline is called the Costa degli Dei, the Coast of the Gods, and it is one of the most beautiful summer holiday destinations in Italy. With dramatic cliffs overlooking crystal clear blue seas and sunny beaches, Tropea is a famous spot for swimming. Although not particularly well-known among foreign travellers, Tropea is popular among Italians.

The town is a curious maze of pretty little streets and squares. The cobbled streets are lined with old blond stone buildings and at various points stairs lead down to the beaches below. On a clear day, you can easily see the volcanic island of Stromboli from the seafront promenade.

Legend has it that Tropea was founded by Hercules, when he returned after completing one of his 12 labors. Historical documents indicate, however, that Scipio Africanus, who returned victorious from the battle of Zama (202 BC, near Carthage), founded a city and offered it as a trophy of gratitude to the gods for the victory, from from which the town took its name. The region was populated from the Neolithic era, and was occupied several times by Arabs, Normans, Swabians, Anjous and Aragonese, as well as being attacked by Turkish pirates.

Varenna is in the center of Lake Como, on the eastern shore of the lake, and is easily accessible by boat from the other towns around the lake. As you approach the center of the village, you have a wonderful view of the harbour, the colorful houses and the church behind the houses, and towards the mountains that surround the village. This part of Varenna has several small bars and cafes and is an idyllic place to enjoy your lunch.

The city also contains several imposing and luxurious villas. Garden lovers will be happy to know that two of these villas have beautiful gardens that can be visited: Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Both are in idyllic lakeside positions and in addition to the gardens you have wonderful views of the lake and the village.

Mentioned as a fishing village from 769, later a vassal of the Communes of Milan, it was destroyed by the militias of Como in 1126. razed castle and destroyed church.

I have to admit...I cheated a little bit here. Herculaneum not being a city but rather the ruins of an ancient city.

Herculaneum was an ancient Roman city located in the Italian region of Campania, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in the year 79 AD. J.-C., preserved for centuries in a volcanic gangue and brought to light from the 18th century by the Bourbon-Two-Sicilies who reigned over Naples.

From 1738, the first diggers dug tunnels in the matrix that imprisons the city, in search of works of art and marble. The King of the Two Sicilies organized the excavations of this first archaeological site in the Western world, the products of which contributed to the spread of neoclassicism in the second half of the century.

The notoriety of Herculaneum is eclipsed by that of Pompeii, but the site nevertheless offers on a concentrated perimeter very evocative remains, thanks to their elevation and the restoration of many covers. It is less famous, less vast, and less visited than its neighbour. However, of all the cities buried by the eruption of Vesuvius, it is the best preserved.

Less than a quarter of the ancient city was pulled from the ground. The excavations stopped where the habitat of the current municipality of Ercolano begins (which was called Resina until 1969), in whose territory the site is located. The majority of public and religious monuments are still covered by the modern city.

I found all those beautiful pictures a little bit everywhere on the net. If someone might take offense with one of them, please let me know. But in the end, be assure that those pictures were chosen because they’ve touch my heart in some ways.