Alghero. Sardinia. Located on the northwest coast of Sardinia, Alghero has become a major holiday destination in recent years and yet still retains its distinctive Catalan character. This derives from the influence of Pedro IV of Aragon who seized control of the town in the mid-fourteenth century and embarked on an intense period of colonization from Spain. Today, Alghero manages to combine its role of tourist centre with that of a thriving port. This enables it to maintain a year round economy outside that of the busy summer months. (Photo by Xavi Gomez/Cover/Getty Images)