the Mediterranean Coast: turquoise water, ancient stone, and golden light

Italy

Italy's Mediterranean coastline ranges from the sheer cliffs of the Amalfi Coast to the colorful harbors of Liguria and the beaches of Sicily and Sardinia. Pastel towns cling to steep slopes above the sea, while ancient Greek and Roman ruins line parts of the southern coast. The mix of painted facades, clear water, and warm southern light makes the Italian coast a centerpiece of any Mediterranean journey.

The Amalfi Coast south of Naples is the most celebrated stretch, where towns such as Positano and Amalfi tumble down cliffs to small harbors, seen at their best from the coastal road or from the water. Nearby, the island of Capri and the ruins of Pompeii add further variety beneath the silhouette of Mount Vesuvius.

Further north, the five villages of the Cinque Terre in Liguria perch on terraced cliffs, their painted houses mirrored in the sea. To the south and on the islands, Sicily and Sardinia offer Greek temples, baroque towns, and some of the clearest waters in the Mediterranean.

Where to take photos

• Positano, Amalfi Coast — a cascade of pastel houses descending a steep cliff to a small beach, loveliest in the soft light of early morning from the coastal road
• Cinque Terre, Liguria — five terraced fishing villages above the sea, with elevated trails that look down over the colorful harbors
• Capri — a rugged island of cliffs and sea stacks, where the Faraglioni rocks frame the classic view out to sea
• Valley of the Temples, Sicily — a line of well-preserved ancient Greek temples that turn golden at sunset
• Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples — the volcano looming over the bay, dramatic from coastal viewpoints at dusk

Croatia

Croatia's Adriatic coast is lined with walled medieval towns, more than a thousand islands, and exceptionally clear water. Cities such as Dubrovnik and Split layer Roman, Venetian, and medieval architecture against dramatic seaside settings. Terracotta rooftops, white stone, and deep blue sea give the Dalmatian coast a beauty that has drawn travelers for generations.

Dubrovnik, in the far south, is encircled by massive medieval walls that enclose a compact old town of marble streets and baroque churches, seen at its grandest from the walls themselves or from the cable car on the hill above. Split, further north, is built around the vast ancient palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian, whose walls and cellars are woven into the living city.

Offshore, hundreds of islands draw their own visitors, from the lavender fields of Hvar to the blue waters of the Pakleni archipelago. Inland, the terraced lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes National Park add a contrasting world of turquoise pools and forest.

Where to take photos

• Dubrovnik city walls, Dubrovnik — encircling the old town high above the sea, with sweeping views over the terracotta rooftops, finest in the calm of early morning
• Diocletian's Palace, Split — a sprawling Roman palace woven into the modern city, its narrow stone passages quiet and shadowed at dawn
• Plitvice Lakes National Park — a chain of terraced turquoise lakes linked by waterfalls and wooden walkways, deepest in color under soft, overcast skies
• Hvar — an island of lavender fields and a hilltop fortress overlooking a harbor dotted with islands, golden as the sun drops
• Rovinj, Istria — a colorful peninsula town topped by a church belltower, lovely seen from the harbor at golden hour

Turkey

Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts combine ancient ruins, turquoise bays, and historic ports with the vast cultural landmarks of Istanbul nearby. The shoreline known as the Turquoise Coast features pine-covered mountains dropping to clear water, dotted with classical and Lycian ruins. Strong southern light and a wealth of ancient sites give travelers as much history as coastline to explore.

The Aegean and Mediterranean shores are lined with extensive classical ruins, including the marble streets of Ephesus and the hilltop tombs and theaters of the Lycian cities. Coastal towns such as Kaş and Fethiye sit beside clear bays, while the sheltered lagoon of Ölüdeniz draws swimmers and paragliders to one of the country's most famous stretches of coast.

Inland and to the northwest, Turkey offers further wonders: the great mosques and palaces of Istanbul straddling the Bosphorus, the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, and, further east, the surreal rock formations of Cappadocia, famous for its sunrise balloon flights.

Where to take photos

• Hagia Sophia, Istanbul — a monumental former cathedral and mosque whose vast domed interior and minarets dominate the old city skyline
• Ölüdeniz lagoon, Turquoise Coast — a sheltered turquoise lagoon backed by mountains, seen in full from the paragliding launch on the heights above
• Ephesus — an extensive Greco-Roman city with the marble Library of Celsus and a great theater, quietest and coolest in early morning
• Pamukkale — white travertine terraces of mineral pools cascading down a hillside, dazzling under clear midday sun
• Cappadocia — eroded rock pinnacles and cave dwellings, famous for the hot-air balloons that fill the sky at sunrise

Montenegro

Montenegro packs fjord-like bays, walled coastal towns, and steep mountains into a small stretch of Adriatic coast. The Bay of Kotor, ringed by peaks, is the country's defining landscape, with medieval towns clustered at the water's edge. Its compact size lets travelers move quickly between coast and mountains in a single day.

The Bay of Kotor is a winding, sheltered inlet that resembles a fjord, hemmed in by steep limestone mountains. The fortified old town of Kotor sits at its head, with ancient walls climbing the slope behind it to a fortress that overlooks the entire bay. Nearby, the town of Perast faces two small islets, one crowned by a church.

Beyond the bay, the coastline takes in the fortified island town of Sveti Stefan and the long beaches around Budva. Inland, the mountains rise quickly to the glacial lakes and peaks of Durmitor National Park, a sharp contrast to the Mediterranean coast below.

Where to take photos

• Bay of Kotor — a fjord-like Adriatic inlet ringed by mountains, seen in full from the Kotor Serpentine road winding high above the water
• Kotor old town walls — fortifications climbing the mountainside to the Castle of San Giovanni, with the whole bay laid out below at sunset
• Sveti Stefan — a fortified islet of stone villas connected to the shore by a narrow causeway, a famous sight from the clifftop above
• Perast — a baroque waterfront town facing the islet church of Our Lady of the Rocks, serene in the stillness of early morning
• Durmitor National Park — a mountain region of glacial lakes and peaks, with the Black Lake mirroring forested slopes

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