Magnificent Mountain Towns

Lakeside at Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt, Austria, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and boasts only 946 residents.
Photo: Manchan


Zermatt by the Matterhorn
Zermatt, Switzerland, is a mountaineering and ski resort on the north side of the Matterhorn.
Photo: Darryl Leniuk



Vernazza, the fourth of the "five lands" of Cinque Terre, Italy, is a fishing village on the Italian Riviera.
Photo: Dennis Flaherty




Taormina's Holy Beauty
Sicily's Taormina boasts the Convent of San Domenic, classical architecture, and popular beaches.
Photo: Martin Child



Hydra Rears Its Heads
Despite its monstrous name, Hydra, Greece, offers a delightful respite for vacationers, and bans all motor traffic except garbage trucks.
Photo: Medioimages/Photodisc




Pretty on the Panhandle
On the Alaska Panhandle and near Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, Skagway, Alaska, was featured in Jack London's book "The Call of the Wild."




Petrified Beauty in Petra
Petra, Jordan, is famous for the ancient dwellings carved into the hidden mountain passes, made of stone that appears pink, red, or gold depending on the light.





Plenty to Do in the Dolomites
Towns in the Alpine Dolomites, like the one here in Italy, offer skiing, mountain climbing, base jumping, paragliding, and other outdoor activities
Photo: Medioimages/Photodisc



Fun at the Bottom of the World
The capital of Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia, Argentina, lies just by a glacier and provides skiing opportunities.
Photo: Medioimages/Photodisc


Reflections of the Fjords
Mountains reflect in water near Sognefjord, Norway. The villages along the fjord keep in contact via boat and some of the steepest railways in the world.
Photo: Medioimages/Photodisc




Snowy Slumber in Obertauern
Obertauern, Austria is a famous tourist destination, and was the setting for the Beatles' 1965 movie "Help!"
Photo: Franz Aberham





Touching God's Finger
"God's Finger" is the most famous peak in Teresopolis, Brazil. Part of Serra dos Órgãos National Park lies within the city limits.
Photo: Andrew Gunners


Santorini by the Sea
Santorini, Greece, is an ancient settlement atop the site of a volcanic explosion, and is legendary for its stunning vistas.
Photo: Allan Montaine



Sunny in Gruyere
Before it was a cheese, Gruyere was a medieval mountain town in Switzerland. It specializes in cattle breeding, milk production, and, yes, cheese.
Photo: Emma Lee/Life File