To explore the true spirit of city and spend a peaceful vacation filled with relaxation and mind-blowing discoveries, you have to visit a country’s hidden villages. While cities are taking part in the globalization phenomena that is invading the world, villages are the right place to explore a country’s culinary art, traditions and hidden gems.

With this in mind, here are a few villages to visit across Europe that will leave you in awe. Enjoy discovering their wonders and treasures.

Giornico, Switzerland

Located in the Italian-speaking canton of southern Switzerland, Giornico is a hidden village filled with family-run restaurants known as “grotte”. While there are no hotels to stay in this village, you can find some in the 35-miles-away lake resort towns of Ascona and Locarno, and enjoy the ride to arrive to this magical place.

Kotor, Montenegro

Despite the fact that it hasn’t reach the peak of its development yet, Kotor is a village in Montenegro that will introduce you to the real Montenegrin stewed meat. Besides this delicacy, you will get the chance to visit its historical fortress and fall in love with the mist that settles into the hills surrounding the village’s bay and hides its blood-orange trees if you happen to visit during the fall. Such a magical place!

Lavenham, England

Nothing is more charming than a visit to a true English tea house and the discovery of its traditional delicacies. With this in mind, Lavenham – which is known to be the prettiest town in England – will offer you the chance to live this dream. It will also give you the opportunity to fall under the charm of its heritage houses. Need we say more?

Photo Courtesy of Pinterest.co.uk

Chassignolles, France

If you believe in the healing power of nature, Chassignolles is the place to spend a wonderful vacation. This village, which was popular among Marseille’s elite in the 1950s, will give you the opportunity to check out its dormant green volcanos and discover the healing qualities of its winding streams. And for the love of food, you will also get the chance to try out the restaurants’ inventive meals made from local ingredients.

Folégandros, Greece

Have you ever visited Greece but would like to explore a calmer side of the country? If the answer is yes, the town of Folégandros will give you this opportunity. In fact, this tranquil spot has nothing in common with Santorini, with no buildings above 2 stories, no cruise ships pulling into the port, no boutiques or fancy restaurants. In this town, it’s all about relaxation, waves crashing against pebbled beaches, goats wandering up the hills and a time-old wooden windmills twisting in the salty breeze. Quite a wonderful escape, huh?

Mirella Haddad