Greece and the Adriatic

An authentic, rugged and definitely non-touristy Greek island community, Cephalonia’s unspoilt and timeless allure is a wonderful setting for a true love story – including Captain Corelli's Mandolin. The largest of the Ionian islands, Cephalonia is home to just 30,000 residents, living mainly in the coastal towns and resorts. Others live much as they have done for centuries, in remote mountain villages.

Explore the legacies of Greek, Roman and Venetian Empires or simply marvel at nature's treasures on this beautiful island swathed in emerald green, lapped by turquoise waters and fringed with golden sand. The once pastel colours on Venetian buildings may have faded, but the welcoming scent of eucalyptus, fig and lemon trees are fragrant as ever.

Kotor is a lesser-known gem on a beautiful fjord-like gulf of the same name in Montenegro. It's a fairy-tale setting, where medieval spires rise dreamily over orange rooftops beside mountainous scenery. The landscapes grow ever more dramatic inland, not least in the Durmitor National Park, draped around the majestic Balkan Mountains.

Acknowledged as The Pearl of the Adriatic Dubrovnik is truly an amazing destination to visit. Its history is as rich and intriguing as the first sight of it looming out of crystalline waters is breathtaking. The Old Town was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and it is no wonder as you discover its morning market piled with fresh flowers, cheese and fish.

Trieste is the capital city of the Friuli Venezia Giulia region in northeast Italy. Founded by the Ancient Romans, it stands on the Adriatic coast below the Karst Plateau, a few kilometers from the border with Slovenia.