1. Ronda, Spain
Ronda is a city in the Spanish province of Málaga. It is located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the city of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalusia. Its population is 35,515.
Ronda is situated in a very mountainous area about 750 m above mean sea level. The Guadalevín River runs through the city, dividing it in two and carving out the steep, 100 plus meters deep El Tajo canyon upon which the city perches. The Spanish Fir (Abies pinsapo) is endemic to the mountains surrounding Ronda.
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Puente Nuevo bridge, Ronda, Spain link |
Main sights of Ronda are three bridges, Puente Romano, Puente Viejo and Puente Nuevo, span the canyon. The term "nuevo" is a bit of a misnomer, as the building of this bridge commenced in 1751 and took until 1793 to complete. The Puente Nuevo is the tallest of the bridges, towering 120 metres (390 ft) above the canyon floor, and all three serve as some of the city's most impressive features.
2. Bonifacio, France
Bonifacio is a commune at the southern tip of the island of Corsica, in the Corse-du-Sud department of France. This town is located directly on the Mediterranean Sea, separated from Sardinia by the Strait of Bonifacio.
The city and its fortifications also extend for some distance along the cliff-tops, which are at about 70 meters (230 ft) elevation. The cliffs have been undercut by the ocean so that the buildings, which have been placed on the very lip of the precipice, appear to overhang it. The appearance from the sea is of a white city gleaming in the sun and suspended over the rough waters below.
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The stunning limestone cliffs of Bonifacio link |
The town's charm and proximity to idyllic beaches makes it a popular tourist destination in the summer, predominantly for residents of mainland France.
3. Oia, Greece
The town of Oia perches on 700-foot high volcanic sea cliffs at the north end of Santorini Island. It is the second largest town in the island. It hosts the most fantastic views on Santorini and its famous sunset is worth to be seen even if it gets a little crowded during the high season.
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Moonlight over Oia link |
Many of the buildings are niches in the volcanic rock and it is easy to get yourself lost in this village. Tranquillity, serenity, pastel colours, houses hanging on the cliffs, Ioa is the perfect place to relax.
4. Al Hajara, Yemen
Al Hajara, sometimes spelt Al Hajjara or Al Hajjarah, is a town in Yemen. It is located in the Al Bayda' Governorate, in the Hajjaz Mountains.
Lying 5km west of Manakhah, and a little higher up the mountain, is the 11th-century village of Al-Hajjarah. The Ottomans found its strategic position useful when defending the roads from the coast to San’a. Nowadays its spectacular setting and century-old stone and whitewashed tower houses (some up to eight storeys) have caught the eye of visitors with mountain-walking in mind.
5. Manarola, Italy
Manarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune (municipality) of Riomaggiore, in the province of La Spezia, Liguria, northern Italy. It is the second smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists.
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Manarola at night link |
A town is the oldest in the region of Cinque Terre in Italy, and is located on the tip of a ravine down to the wild and rugged coastline of the Ligurian Sea. It’s the second of the smallest town in Cinque Terre that’s very popular with tourists for its colorful houses and a picturesque view of the sea.
6. Azenhas do Mar, Portugal
Azenhas do Mar is the name of this town. It is near the cape named Cabo da Roca, the most western point of the European Continent. Except for the islands, the nearest village to the left (west) is somewhere in North America.
Azenhas do Mar is situated in a picturesque valley, its white houses perched on the North Slope, is one of the most appreciated and interesting beaches, with swimming pools dug out of the rock. The miradouro das Azenhas do Mar is built on cliffs that drop fearlessly to the ocean. It is a popular place both in Summer and Winter, due to the grandeur of the view it offers.
7. Castellfollit de la Roca, Spain
Castellfollit de la Roca is a municipality in the comarca of Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. The urban area is bordered by the confluence of the Fluvià and Toronell rivers, between which the town's basalt cliff rises. The town is in an area of less than a square kilometre, making it one of the smallest towns in Catalonia.
The basalt crag where the town is situated is over 50 m high and almost a kilometre long. It was formed by the overlaying of two lava flows.
I would add Castelmola in Sicily to this list. http://www.castelmola.com/
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