Travel and Leisure magazine published an article on 25 secret European villages, the ideal destinations to “discover a country’s soul”.

According to the article, these amazing gems that feature medieval churches, cobblestoned streets, and endless olive groves are ideal for a special vacation. What is the allure of these destinations?

“Perhaps it is the scaled-down size, the greater ease of catching a shopkeeper’s eye, the colorful flowers hanging in a window,” says travel agent Marjorie Shaw of Insiders Italy, a Rome-based agency.

Writer David Farley agrees with her: “In a time of creeping globalization, villages offer a look into the past as well as a clearer sense of the country or region, including its food.”

Two stunning Greek villages were included in the prestigious travel magazine’s list: Folegandros and Kardamili are two amazing destinations off the beaten path, that offer the visitor a truly unique travel experience.

Folégandros, Greece

“This tranquil spot in the Cyclades has nothing in common with neighboring Santorini: no building stands above two stories, no cruise ships pull into port, and there are no boutiques or fancy restaurants,” says the article, adding that “on this remote island in the Aegean, waves crash on pebbled beaches, goats scurry up the hills, and an old wooden windmill twists in the salty breeze.”

Kardamili, Greece

“If you’ve heard murmurs that the jagged mountains and white-sand beaches of the Mani region are worth the trip from Athens, you’re not alone,” says Travel and Leisure magazine. Insiders head there for a unique traditional experience!