La Spezia, Italy

A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cinque Terre is a string of centuries-old seaside villages on the rugged Italian Riviera coastline. In each of the five towns, colorful houses and vineyards cling to steep terraces, harbors are filled with fishing boats and trattorias turn out seafood specialties along with the Liguria region's famous sauce, pesto. The Sentiero Azzurro hiking trail links the villages and offers sweeping sea vistas.

La Spezia is the gateway to Cinque Terre. Steep cliffs, dense pine woods, romantic coves and exceptional beaches, along with picturesque villages perched atop the bluffs, striking the visitor's eye with all their beauty. La Spezia also has some very interesting attractions, such as the Archaeological Museum.