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Manarola

Manarola is one of Italy’s famous Cinque Terre towns. Photo: iStockphoto

Any good vacation involves some kicking back and taking the sights. If hilltop towns and cliffside villages—like these—are part of the mix, you won’t have to work too hard.

The Tuscan hill town of Cortona—the inspiration for Francis Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun—is enclosed by 3,000-year-old Etruscan walls and punctuated by steep, narrow streets, with memorable medieval architecture. After hiking up Chiesa di Santa Margherita and taking panoramic views, visit its Museo dell’Accademia Etrusca to learn about Etruscan, Roman and Egyptian civilizations.

Speaking of Italy, the small town of Manarola, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not to be missed. Here, pastel homes are perched precariously on soaring cliffs and fringed by verdant vineyards. But pack your walking shoes, since it’s a car-free locale.

The medieval city of Rocamadour in southwest France’s Midi-Pyrénées seemingly springs from a cliff. Situated on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, overlooking a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. Marked by monastic buildings and pilgrimage churches, these days it’s widely recognized for producing superior goat’s milk cheese.

Then again, for ambiance it’s hard to beat Lisbon. Tucked into rambling hills along the Tagus River, the city features abounds with views of its iconic, pastel-hued architecture. While there, absorb the tropical flora at the jawdroppingly pretty Jardim do Ultramar, and grab pastries from Pastéis de Belém.

Of course, you don’t have to travel far for beauty: just make your way to California’s Big Sur and, specifically, the McWay Waterfall Trail in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.The journey rewards you with the thunderous, 80-foot falls and coastal views from golden, sandy shores.

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Jennifer Olvera

Jennifer Olvera

Jennifer Olvera is a culinary travel writer, recipe developer and author of Food Lovers’ Guide to Chicago. Find her on Twitter at @olverajennifer.
Jennifer Olvera

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