Trogir, Croatia

Thirty kilometres east of Primošten and about 20km west of Split, Trogir is one of the most seductive towns on the Dalmatian coast, a compact brown-beige welter of palaces, jutting belfries and shambling streets fanning out from an antique central square. Founded by Greeks from Vis in the third century BC, Trogir can compare with any of the towns on the coast in terms of historic sights, and its cathedral is one of the finest in the Adriatic. It's also a good base for further exploration: the swarming city of Split is a short ride away on the #37 bus, and between the two lies a string of time-worn fishing villages known collectively as Kaštela, after the little "castles" built here by Trogir nobles to serve as country retreats.