MEDITERRANEAN 51
SYROS, GREECE MARMARIS, TURKEY
PUERTO BANÚS, SPAIN
FEATURED New Ports of Call
IZMIR, TURKEY
Curled around a cerulean bay, Izmir buzzes with a
remarkably cosmopolitan vibe considering its estimated
4,000 years of history. Soak up the sublime
Mediterranean atmosphere along a café-laden
waterfront, savouring boyoz, kumru, kokoreç and lokma
(‘king of desserts’) over Turkish coffee. Haggle at
historic Kemeralti Bazaar, visit Izmir’s archaeological
museum and ride a teleferic (cable car) for panoramic
views of the ‘Pearl of the Aegean’.
MARMARIS, TURKEY
With an azure-blue sea lapping golden beaches, a
multitude of wood-hulled yachts bobbing in marinas
and pine-covered hillsides framing it all, Marmaris
earns its stripes as a popular resort town. Take in
the views along the walls and ramparts of Marmaris
Castle before stopping off at its artefact-rich museum,
then head to the waterfront for dizzying varieties of
Greek and Turkish food – and maybe a sip of ouzo.
PUERTO BANÚS, SPAIN
Simply put, the most glamorous marina on Spain’s
Costa del Sol. Built by a local property developer in
1970, Puerto Banús today draws five million visitors
annually to its high-end shopping malls, bars and
restaurants. Put on your best celebrity sunglasses and
promenade along Muelle de Ribera, the epicentre of
exclusive boutiques and designer fashion shops.
SYROS, GREECE
If Santorini and Mykonos are the superstars of the
Cyclade Islands, Syros is its bastion of authentic
Greek life. Founded during the Greek Revolution in
the 1820s, the capital city of Ermoupoli is a dreamscape
of pastel-coloured neoclassical buildings and grand
churches. Savour the ‘Duchess of the Aegean’ with
visits to Plateia Miaouli, Ermoupoli’s marble-paved
square; St. George’s (Grenada) Cathedral atop the
medieval hilltop settlement of Ano Syros; and Vaporia,
the city’s most picturesque quarter.