When you see some of these cliffside towns you will wonder how they seem to be defying gravity. They seem to cling so precariously - but hey, some of them have lasted very well for many centuries so I guess it's not up to us to worry - just take advantage of the fabulous sightseeing opportunities.
1 Ronda, Spain
Well the buildings look solid enough even if close to the edge - but those steps! Would you get me on them? Nooo!
2 Vernazza, Italy
A little gem on the Ligurian coast. One of the famed "Cinque Terre"
3 Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia
The town stretches up the cliffs from Lake Ohrid.
4 Rocamadour, France
A gorgeous medieval town in the Dordogne region of Southern France.
5 Positano, Italy
A favorite destination on the Amalfi coast for A-Listers.
6 Manarola, Italy
Another of the Cinque Terre.
7 Al Hajarah, Yemen
Al Hajjara, sometimes spelt as Al Hajara, is a historical cliff city in the Yemen’s Haraz Mountains. It is one of the most impressive and easily accessible mountain villages in Yemen.
8 Myra, Turkey
Turkey is so often forgotten when it comes to the matter of ancient civilizations but it has some incredible ruins.
9 Orvieto, Italy
You'll love how the vineyards spread out below this Umbrian cliffside town.
10 Mendocino, California, USA
Mendocino Village hugs a beautiful coastal blufftop. Most of the town's charming wooden buildings date from the 1800s.
11 Masuleh, Iran
Masuleh was founded in the 10th century AD in the Alborz Mountains near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Amazingly the streets are built on the house roofs.
12 Riomaggiore, Italy
Yes - you guessed it - another of the Cinque Terre.
13 Wadi Dawan, Yemen
There are so many incredible sighs in Yemen - but it's not safe to travel there.
14 Tropea, Italy
A charming place on the Calabrian coast (in the toe of Italy).
15 Castellfollit De La Roca, Spain
A 1,000 person village perched on a spit of land with cliffs on both sides
16 Bonifacio, Corsica
Bonifacio is the setting of Guy de Maupassant's short story, Vendetta.
17 Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik has one of the oldest "old town"s in Europe.
18 Valparaíso, Chile
The colorful city is connected by funiculars and long climbs of steps.
19 Oia, Santorini, Greece
20 Azenhas do Mar, Portugal
Magic and mystery on Portugal's Atlantic coast
21 Mont St. Michel, France
A tidal island (tides vary as much as 50 feet) located off the coast of Normandy
22 Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia
A popular tourist destination.
23 Velika Tarnovo, Bulgaria
Famously know as the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, this city has beautiful views and endless examples of historical architecture.
24 Clifton, Cape Town, South Africa
An exclusive residential area and is home to some of the most expensive real estate in South Africa as well as a magnificent beach.
25 Tenby, Wales
One of my very favorite places in the UK.
26 Cuenca, Spain
You can see why they call the buildings here the "hanging houses".
27 Dover Heights, Sydney, Australia
A suburb of Sydney with some gorgeous individual homes overlooking the ocean.
28 Acapulco, Mexico
Known for its amazing cliffs and the daredevil divers.
29 Mesa Verde, USA
These ancient dwellings are part of the largest archaeological preserve in the United States.
30 Bandiagara Escarpment, Mali
The Bandiagara Escarpment is a sandstone cliff dotted with ancient cave dwellings of the Tellem people.
31 Jodphur, India
The picture is actually of Mehrangarh Fort which is located 400 feet above the city, which itself sprawls up the mountainside.
32 Berat, Albania
The aged town crawls up the sides of the Tomorr Mountains.
33 Mostar, Bosnia
The bridge in the picture became a symbol of the war when it was destroyed in the Bosnian Conflict. It was rebuilt in 2004.
Living in any of these towns must be an experience - amazing views, tall narrow streets, tons of history ... would you prefer to live or visit?
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