Nara, located in Japan’s Kansai region, is a city where ancient history and serene landscapes coexist. As the country’s first permanent capital, it preserves a wealth of historic sites that reflect its significance during the Nara period.

A popular cruise line port, Portoferraio is a spectacular spot on the Italian coast and principal town of Elba Island.

The largest Pacific seaport in Guatemala, Puerto Quetzal is also the gateway to Antigua, a well-preserved colonial city.

Portoroz lies on Slovenia’s short Adriatic coast, where its identity has been shaped by the sea and by centuries of salt production in the nearby Sečovlje pans.

Pondicherry is a coastal town in southern India that still carries traces of its French colonial past. The French Quarter, or White Town, is filled with mustard-yellow buildings, iron-laced balconies, and streets with French names. Visitors can explore this area on foot or by bicycle, stopping at spots like the 18th-century Eglise de Notre Dame des Anges, built in Greco-Roman style, or the French Consulate, which continues to operate from a colonial-era building.