Aragonese Castle of Le Castella, Calabria, Italy

Bulwark on the boot

Built over the ruins of an ancient Greek fortification, Le Castella served for centuries as a defense here on Calabria's coast, both from enemy navies and pirate raids. But flying cannonballs and clanking cutlasses are things of the past in this peaceful place near the sole of Italy's boot. Beauty abounds both above and below the water here: A plethora of wildlife ply these seas, protected as the nation's largest marine preserve, and it's a popular place for scuba diving and glass-bottom boat tours.