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The most beautiful hilltop towns and villages in Europe

by OnverZe
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Europe is brimming with picturesque hilltop towns and villages. Most are centuries old, having been created as strategic hubs during times of conflict and turbulence during the Middle Ages. These sites were known for their cultivation of olives, wine, and other produce as rural horticultural centers. Many of these locations are now renowned tourist sites, thanks to their superb architecture and distinct sense of heritage. In fact, if you’re planning a trip to Africa, make sure to include some of these breathtaking wonders on your itinerary. Have you already packed? 

Discover where to go and what to see by scrolling through. 

Mont Saint-Michel, France

The most beautiful hilltop towns and villages in Europe
Photo by Alain Bonnardeaux on Unsplash

The Normandy hilltop village of Mont Saint-Michel, possibly the most famous in all of Europe and perhaps the most iconic in France, is made up of a group of homes built by fishermen and topped by a massive monastery from the eleventh century. 

Taormina, Italy

Photo by Ruth Troughton on Unsplash

Perhaps more of a clifftop than a hilltop, Taormina on Sicily’s east coast has been drawing tourists since the 19th-century Grand Tour. Gazing upon the blush-hued walls and terracotta rooftops, the spectacular Teatro Antico is a 3rd-century BCE Greek theater. 

Mdina, Malta

Aerial photo of Malta

Mdina is one of the most magnificent hilltop towns in the Mediterranean. From antiquity until the Middle Ages, the capital of the island was this walled settlement. Churches, monasteries, and palaces heighten the dramatic viewpoint. 

Groznjan, Croatia

The most beautiful hilltop towns and villages in Europe
Wikipedia

The Istria peninsula in Croatia is dotted with picturesque hilltop villages, but Groznjan is the one that really draws the eye. This picturesque location was home to a vibrant community of singers, writers, and painters in the 1950s and early 1960s. And Groznjan continues to portray a charming picture even now. 

Arcos de la Frontera, Spain

The most beautiful hilltop towns and villages in Europe
Image by Makalu from Pixabay

Arcos de la Frontera, arguably the most well-known of Andalusia’s pueblos blancos (white towns), is crowned by the majestic Moorish castle from the eleventh century and the 15th-century Basílica de Santa María de la Asunción.  

Oia, Greece

The most beautiful hilltop towns and villages in Europe
Photo by Heidi Kaden on Unsplash

Oia, the photographer’s favorite spot, is located on Santorini’s northwest tip. Its blue-domed churches, whitewashed cottages, and rickety old windmills gaze out over a large crater that was created by a long-ago volcanic eruption. 

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