These quaint towns have it all—remote location, rich history, a ton of classic architecture, and, last but not least, incredibly breathtaking views. It’s pretty amazing that these cities, nestled into cliffs, above gorges, and on top of ancient lava flows, have survived for so long.
1. Bonifacio, France
The ancient city of Bonifacio is located on the southern most tip of Corsica, France, and is built onto limestone cliffs 230 feet above the harbor below. Because limestone is such a soft stone, ocean water has eroded the base of the cliffs over the years, making the old buildings hang directly over the ocean.
Since the city has been around for a pretty long time, it’s no wonder Bonifacio has seen some wear and tear. Skeletal remains of a woman dating back to 6570 BC (aptly named “Dame de Bonifacio”) were found in a cave in the northern region of the city. In addition, scholars argue that there’s a reference to Bonifacio in Homer’s Odyssey, when he describes a race of giant cannibals, called Laestrygonians, who live in a harbor very similar to Bonifacio’s.
Today, Bonifacio has around four hundred residents (none of whom are confirmed cannibal giants) and is a popular resort town for French and Italians.
Photo courtesy of Paul-in-London (cc)
2. Ronda, Spain
Ronda is located in a mountainous area 2,500 above sea level in the Andalusian region of Spain. The city was initially settled by Celts and was subsequently ruled by Romans, Moors, and, finally, Catholic Spain in 1485. Ronda is built on the two peaks above the El Tajo canyon, which has been shaped by the Guadalevin River that runs 330 feet below. Since the town is split on two hilltops, Ronda is connected by three bridges, one Roman, one Arab, and the “newest,” Puente Nuevo, which was completed in 1793.
Both Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles fell passionately in love with Ronda and spent summers in the old town quarter called La Ciudad, writing about the city’s famous bullfighting and troubled political history. Welles even chose the city as his final resting place—his ashes were scattered in the Ronda bullfighting ring.
Photo courtesy of karynsig (cc)
3. Santorini, Greece
The geography of Santorini was created by a volcanic eruption in 1600 BCE, when a large island that existed there before was blown to bits and a small archipelago of islands surrounding a central lagoon was created. The islands of Santorini are located southeast of the main Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. Although each small island is shaped differently, most of the hillsides of Santorini rise up over 950 feet from the lagoon below.
Many architectural elements of Santorini come from its history as an erupted volcano. The whitewashed, low-lying homes of the main island are often colored with volcanic ash and are usually constructed sideways or down into the earth in order to utilize the cool, volcanic pumice stone the city is built on.
Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Staudt (cc)
4. Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain
With an area of less then one square kilometer, Castellfollit de la Roca is located in the Catalonian region of Spain and is home to fewer than one thousand inhabitants. The unique geography of Castellfollit was created by lava flows thousands of years ago that ran over each other and hardened, forming a basalt craig. This craig was slowly eroded by two rivers, until a small stretch of land was created, rising 165 feet from the rivers that still run below.
Castelfollit’s Old Town has origins in the medieval period, and its dark and narrow streets haven’t changed much in hundreds of years. So it’s pretty surprising that the city was one of the first in Spain to have telephones installed in 1907. Since the town is so isolated, the mayor pushed to have telephones connecting Castellfollit and two other nearby towns. Phone lines weren’t available to the rest of Spain for another decade or so.
