Wander around a dreamy Italian-style village in Wales

You might be forgiven for believing you were in southern Europe rather than North Wales if you were dumped in the midst of Portmeirion. The multicolored, Italian-inspired town appears to be from another universe. Portmeirion Village is a colorful collection of rainbow-hued buildings set on its own calm peninsula stretching into an estuary, fully designed by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. It's not the truest representation of Welsh living, but it's certainly worth a visit for the stunning architecture, lush gardens, and sandy beaches.

The Architects' Journal published the first article on Portmeirion on January 6, 1926, with images of scale models and early plans made by Clough to show possible investors. John Rothenstein says in this article: "He has bought what he feels to be a perfect location on the sea-coast of North Wales, close to his own old house, Plas Brondanw, and he is working on designs and models for the layout of a complete tiny village. The outcomes of his project will be substantial, and they should do much to undermine the existing belief that, although buildings must be carefully constructed, communities may grow up by accident."