With a world full of fascinating destinations, choosing the perfect vacation spot can present a challenge. That’s why Secret World used expert opinions, reader votes and current trends – and evaluated sights, cultures, scenic beauty, food options and more – to compile this list of the world’s best places to visit.
1.Prague
Prague along with Paris,Naples and Rome, is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe.For a romantic walk straight out of a Fellini film, it’s hard to beat the twisty, cobbled lanes of Prague’s Malá Strana district, where sonatas spill out of palace windows and hushed baroque gardens appear behind great grandiose gates. Its breath-taking views, fairy tale cobblestone streets and pastel-coloured buildings is the ideal recipe for romance.
No matter what time of year you visit, there are plenty of romantic things to do in Prague and you’ll find the spirit of love around every corner. The city’s centuries-old architecture, barely scratched during the Second World War, serves as a fitting backdrop to a lifestyle that gave us the word Bohemian.
2.Naples
Old Town Naples, Italy, was the first historic center to be named a UNESCO site. Stroll down Via dei Tribunali and within walking distance is a veritable treasure trove of sites to discover. View centuries of history under your feet, visit historic churches, enjoy the Mediterranean cuisine, visit year-round Christmas markets, and marvel at the acclaimed greatest museum in Europe. There is so much to see in Naples.
3.Boston.
A city of history, culture, food, and yes, romance. It’s not surprising that there are countless romantic things to do in Boston.
One of the most iconic New England destinations, Boston, Massachusetts is known even outside the US, drawing visitors from across the globe. Each year, millions of people travel to Boston to experience its world-class museums, amazing historical sites, and thrilling sports scene. It’s not just a great starting point for a New England road trip; it’s a prime destination in its own right.
Boston is a city for lovers. Whether its a first date, a Valentine’s Day special night or proposing marriage.
4.Matera
” Anyone who sees Matera cannot fail to be impressed, so expressive and touching is its aching beauty. ”
(Carlo Levi)
Matera is an Italian town of about 60,000 inhabitants and is also well known abroad for being the so-called “city of the Sassi” (or even the “underground city”). In fact, thanks to the historic Sassi districts (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993), Matera is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.The earliest settlements in Matera date back to prehistoric times, when caves were inhabited and later enlarged to make room for more inhabitants. Matera is the city in Italy with the oldest settlements and consists of two districts, Barisano and Caveoso.
Enter Matera via the new part of the city and continue on foot through Via del Corso to arrive at Piazza San Francesco.
At this point, you will be faced with a breathtaking view; the wonderful panorama of the ancient part of Matera. Full of stupendous views that offer in a thousand slightly different ways images of these prehistoric dwellings and the sensational surrounding countryside.
Arm yourself with a map (which you may not even need!) and get lost inside this maze of narrow streets, A pair of sturdy, solid shoes are recommended!
5.Ragusa
Ragusa Ibla is a wonderful, enchanting place. As soon as you set foot in what is the oldest district of Ragusa, you will be fascinated by the beauty of the places and the magnificence of churches and palaces. Ragusa Ibla is the ancient city from which the large new part of Ragusa develops as a broad offshoot.
14 of the 18 monuments belonging to the city of Ragusa registered in the Unesco world heritage site reside in Ibla.
6.Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber,often called the land of Pinocchio is a real fairy tale town.
And that feeling we get, of being inside a fairy town walking through the streets of the medieval town, is not just a figment of our imagination. For in a fairy tale we are really there.
Rothenburg ob der Tauber, in fact, is the town that inspired the cartoon of Pinocchio, the fairy tale that has enchanted adults and children alike for generations.When Walt Disney chose to bring to life one of the most beautiful and extraordinary fairy tales by Collodi, born Carlo Lorenzini, it seems that he himself was inspired by the treasure of Bavaria to outline the setting of one of his most famous fairy tales. A walk through the village takes us to discover its most authentic wonders. The old town, enclosed by walls from which towers and gates stand out, is a real gem. On the Plonlein, old area, colorful houses and a splendid medieval tower overlook the whole area.
Walking among the medieval and Romanesque churches, one reaches the central square, Marktplatz, the nerve center of city life where the Rathaus building is also located
7.Carcassonne
Located in southern France, on the road to Lourdes, one hour from Toulouse and three hours from Barcelona, Carcassonne benefits from a privileged location.
The medieval citadel of Carcassonne was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman fortress and was the center of the crusade against the Albigensians in the 13th century. After the destruction of the areas at the foot of the Cité, in 1245 King Louis IX, known as the Saint, authorized the inhabitants to build a new city: the Bastide Saint-Louis. An important textile center in the seventeenth century, Carcassonne enjoyed an intense cultural life during the nineteenth century because of the benefits associated with the wine trade. Today Carcassonne benefits from a worldwide reputation thanks to the UNESCO World Heritage listing of its medieval Cité and Canal du Midi (dating from the 17th century).
8.Madeira
The island of Madeira is steeped in romance. Rising almost vertically out of the ocean, 600 miles off the coast of mainland Portugal, it combines a dramatically mountainous inland with an equally dramatic coastline of high cliffs and crashing surf. Flowers bloom everywhere, thriving in its balmy tropical climate.
This same climate gives Madeira an abundance of tropical fruits (there are seven different varieties of passionfruit alone) and the sea provides an equally wide palette of fish and shellfish. You may be surprised at the creative ways Madeira’s chefs combine these two into delicious dishes. To appreciate the variety of fruits and seafood, stop in at the daily market in the capital city of Funchal. Or better yet, dine your way around the island at its most romantic spots.
9.Santorini
Discover Santorini, a unique destination in the Greek islands, steeped in legend and mystery, a mythical ancient island that endured one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history.Incredible sunsets, pearly white buildings adorned with bougainvillea, blue-domed churches, and picturesque windmills make Santorini a sought-after destination.
This Greek paradise attracts newlyweds and couples from around the globe eager to witness its famed sunsets of Oia, swim in hot springs, savor its cuisine, and indulge in luxurious resorts.
