Corfu

The mythic stomping ground of Poseidon and the home of the ancient Phaeacians bursts forth from its place in the Ionian Sea in a medley of sandy stretches and pebbly coves, Unesco-attested villages and chiselled cliffs. But while Corfu’s backcountry remains undeniably gorgeous, it’s the human spots like the Angelokastro castle, the Vlacherna monastery and the Mandraki marina that really leave visitors gasping in disbelief. While you’re here, stay in a traditional 19th-century Corfiot villa in Sinarades that overlooks the whole island.