Toledo’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where a glorious past greets you at every turn. The old city is a cross-fertilisation of Jewish, Islamic and Christian cultures, and in many buildings you’ll see how all these influences are blended together. You’ll gaze at sumptuous renaissance paintings and find out about the Spanish …
A thousand years ago Córdoba (Spain) was the largest city in the world, with a population three times its current 320,000. It was the capital of the Caliphate of Córdoba, which for several hundred years controlled much of the Iberian peninsula. The Umayyad Caliphate is long gone, but its heritage is visible throughout the historic …
Ohio is sometimes still disparagingly called a flyover state – a part of the American Midwest only ever seen from 30,000 feet up. But to stick to this stereotype would mean never exploring the state’s fascinating museums or Amish communities. Nor would you get to experience a great range of Ohio romantic weekend getaways. “Romance” …
The World Heritage city of Ávila is adored for its formidable medieval walls, an intact fortified ring around the old city. Gazing down at the city from a vantage point to the west, Ávila will look like something out of a storybook or fantasy movie. The reason for its appearance is that the city was …
Salamanca is a town that is both young and old at the same time: Young, for the many students who go to the city’s university, a centre of higher learning for hundreds of years. And “old” because of the sea of historic buildings that meet the eye when you look out over the cityscape. These …
Andalusia’s capital is a city rich with Moorish heritage. This is visible in everything from the colourful painted tiles that adorn many buildings, to the lobed arches of the palaces and of course the iconic Giralda tower, which was once a minaret. Three of the things most associated with Spain are also typically Sevillian: Flamenco, …
The capital of the Costa de la Luz is a low-key, unpretentious city that shines for its wonderful seafood, Blue Flag beaches and historic centre that hides a cornucopia of fascinating little attractions. It’s all set up for a very indulgent holiday spent on a sun-lounger by day and with loved ones over a delicious, …
What brings most people to The Gambia are the beaches – and there are plenty to choose from. Luxurious five-star resorts that cater to your every whim co-exist with fun and busy Mediterranean-style zones chock full of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. There’s also plenty of room for lazy days and long walks along palm-tree lined …
The distinction of smallest country on Earth (by size AND population) goes to Vatican City. Located within Rome, Italy, Vatican City has less than 1000 inhabitants and has been an independent country since 1929. Also called the Holy See, it has been the home of the Catholic Pope since the 14th century and is the …
Set where the River Aura empties into the Archipelago Sea, Turku is Finland’s oldest city and was the country’s first capital. National monuments like Turku Castle and Turku Cathedral will bring Finland’s origins to light, and you can learn how vaunted cultural figures like Jean Sibelius and Wäinö Aaltonen helped to shape the nation in …