Scala dei Turchi

A dazzling white cliff of soft marl rock on Sicily's south coast, eroded into the shape of a huge staircase descending into the turquoise sea. It's especially beautiful at sunset, when the white rock turns pink and gold.

To protect the fragile cliff, walking on the rock itself has been restricted; check the current rules on site. Enjoy it from the beaches on either side, where you can swim. It's near Realmonte, about 20 minutes from Agrigento, so combine it with the Valley of the Temples, one of the greatest Greek sites outside Greece.