Nestled within the Riff Mountains of northwest Morocco, this delightful bright blue village was founded as a fortress in the 15th century to fend off the marauding Portuguese. These days, it’s an amicable mishmash of cobblestoned streets lined with little more than local tanneries and weavers.
Sure, the town center may seem a little touristy at present, but just a short bike or boat ride away is where the real magic is at. Pointy mountains jut out through the mist, while whimsical old men with wispy grey beards and conical hats ply the rivers to fish with their well-trained birds of prey.
An archeologist’s wonderland, the monolithic stone churches of Lalibela are among the most underrated on earth. These impressive sacred structures are carved out of sheer rock, a series of ancient pilgrimage sites that give the town a truly mystical air.
The undisputed king of the Greek Islands, Santorini is renowned for its countless whitewashed abodes that peer out over the dazzling waters of the Mediterranian Sea. And despite welcoming an army of tourists each year, it still manages to retain a magical small-town feel.
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