Dubrovnik, a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, is a prominent tourist destination. The city joined the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. An outstanding feature of the Old Town of Dubrovnik is its intact city walls that run uninterrupted for 1,940m encircling the city. Read more about Dubrovnik, Croatia

Monopoli (aka Monopolis) is a town in Italy in the province of Bari, about 40 km southeast from Bari. (Imagine if your foot was in the ‘boot’ of Italy, your heel would be touching Monopoli.) This is the beautiful Apulia region of Italy with the Adriatic coastline on the edge of the city. It is important as an agricultural, industrial and tourist centre. Read more about Monopoli, Italy

Otranto is a town on the east coast of the ‘heel’ of Italy, Salento Peninsula in the province of Lecce. It has a small harbour facing the Strait of Otranto that connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea, and that separates Italy and Albania (just 75 km apart). Five kilometres to the SE of Otranto is the lighthouse Faro della Palascìa, that marks the most easterly point of Italy, on the 'heel' of the Italian mainland. Read more about Otranto, Italy

Gallipoli (Italy), located by the Ionian Sea on the west coast of the Salentina Peninsula, is also known as the "Ionian Pearl". The Old Town is built on a limestone island and linked to the mainland by a 16th C bridge. The walls and bastions surrounding the old town are believed to have been built in the 15th century to fend off pirate attacks, as the port was once part of an important trade route. Read more about Gallipoli, Italy

Taormina is a small town on the island of Sicily in Italy, in the Province of Messina. Settled on a hill, the town - accessible via an aerial tramway - dominates two sweeping bays, and on the southern side the top of Mount Etna can be seen. While it is unashamedly touristy and has a main street lined with high-end designer shops, the town remains a striking location with gorgeous medieval churches, a stunning Greek theatre, and sweeping views. Read more about Taormina, Italy

Reggio, or Reggio Calabria (pop. 560,000), is the largest city of Calabria, Southern Italy. It is located on the ‘toe’ of Italy, facing west to the Strait of Messina and the island of Sicily. Read more about Reggio, Italy

The capital of Sicily, Palermo is an historic city in southern Italy and is situated on the NW of the island right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The 2700 year-old city is noted for its rich history, culture and architecture. With Sicily's greatest concentration of sights, and the second biggest historic centre in Italy, Palermo is a complex, multilayered city that can be overwhelming if you try to see too much. Read more about Palermo, Italy