9 Real Cities Built in Mind-Blowing Locations (2 of 5)

2. Fira, Greece

Ever wanted to live on a volcano? Welcome to Fira, the capital of Santorini! This perfect town, straight from a fever dream, sits on the steep edge of a volcanic caldera, with its iconic white-and-blue buildings perched on cliffs above the sea. Tourists come for the sunsets but stay for the lore, as they learn that the entire island was formed by a volcanic explosion 3,600 years ago. That half-moon bay was literally the blown-out center of a volcano. Gorgeous and geologically exciting.

3. Monsanto, Portugal

Monsanto looks like a village from a fable built by mountain trolls eons ago. Instead of building around giant granite boulders, locals just incorporated them into their homes, turning them into walls or roofs. Some houses are carved into the rocks. With cobblestone alleys and moss-covered stones winding up to a medieval castle, this town looks like it fell out of a high-fantasy novel. No wonder it’s now a protected “living museum.”