BBC-TRAVEL:World's best islands ...

BBC: Το ομορφότερο νησί στον κόσμο η Σαντορίνη


No. 1
Santorini, Greece
An ancient island that endured one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, Santorini feels like no other place on earth. Here, 120 miles southwest of mainland Greece, everything is brighter: the whitewashed cube-shaped houses, the lapis lazuli sea and the sunsets that light up the caldera. So it seems about time that Santorini captured the No. 1 island title for the first time in World’s Best Awards history—beating out Maui, Bali, and the Galápagos. For the ultimate trip, base yourself in picturesque Oia, on the island’s northern tip, where hotels are set on cliffs above the glittering Aegean Sea
 (Courtesy Art Kowalsky / Alamy)



No. 2
Bali, Indonesia
Lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, Bali is but one of 17,500 islands in the Indonesian archipelago; yet even among its colourful neighbours — and even after decades of tourism development — it stands alone in its lushness and incomparable beauty. (Courtesy David Noton Photography / Alamy)



No. 3
Cape Breton, Canada
Readers love this island in Nova Scotia for its captivating vistas: cliff-backed beaches and forested headlands studded with lighthouses. Local culture commingles Scottish, Acadian, Irish, African and native Mi’kmaq influences and the music scene is an eclectic mix of fiddling played in parish halls to the popular Thursday night ceilidh (kay-lee) dance gathering. (Courtesy Reimar 6 / Alamy)


Νο.4

Boracay, Philippines
Now that even tiny islands such as Koh Samui are becoming mainstream, Boracay may be one of the last little-known Asian beach getaways. The sandy-shored speck is accessible via an hour-long flight from Manila to Caticlan, followed by a 10-minute ferry ride. Go now, before the crowds arrive. (Courtesy Peter Adams Photography Ltd / Alamy)



No.5
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Though the competition for the best island in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific is steep (consider Bora-Bora, Fiji and Tasmania), the Great Barrier Reef, which unfurls from Australia’s northeastern coast, is by far the champion. The area’s spectacularly cerulean water and vast sweep of coral teems with sea life — baleen whales, leatherback turtles, giant clams and about 400 other species. (Courtesy David Ball / Alamy) 
 
 
 
No. 6
Sicily, Italy
A historical feast with 300 days of sun per year, spectacular landscapes, and a vibrant culinary scene, Sicily is becoming one of Italy’s buzziest destinations, and received its highest score yet in the 2011 World’s Best Awards. On this Italian island, there’s a new respect for heritage, and the hotel sector is on the upswing. The most trumpeted debut, the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort—part of the Rocco Forte Collection—has focused the spotlight on a handsome swath of the southern coast. And Orient-Express recently renovated two classic hotels in Taormina, the Grand Hotel Timeo and the Villa Sant’Andrea.
 
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30-11-2011