Saint-Émilion, nestled in the heart of southwest France, is a living monument to centuries of craftsmanship, faith, and wine-making. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, this medieval town sits on a limestone plateau surrounded by vineyards that date back to Roman times. Visitors can explore cobbled streets that wind past centuries-old stone houses, descend into underground catacombs carved by monks, and visit the astonishing Monolithic Church.
Batalha, a small town in central Portugal, is steeped in history and home to one of the country’s most magnificent monuments, the Batalha Monastery. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, also known as the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, was built to commemorate the Portuguese victory over Castile at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. I
Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic, is celebrated for its pastel-colored houses, pink-sand beaches, and a unique blend of British and island traditions.
Las Palmas (officially Las Palmas de Gran Canaria) is the capital of Gran Canaria island as well as co-capital (along with Santa Cruz de Tenerife) of the Canary Islands. It is a major cruise-ship port known for duty-free shopping and sandy beaches, including Playa de Las Canteras, considered by many to be one of the best urban beaches worldwide.
Tonga is distinctly different to its neighboring island nations. This Polynesian kingdom, made up of 170 islands, carries a proud history that dates back over 3,000 years. On the main island of Tongatapu, travelers can explore ancient stone structures like the Haʻamonga ʻa Maui Trilithon—sometimes called the Stonehenge of the Pacific. Royal tombs in Lapaha offer a glimpse into the lineage of Tonga’s kings, while village life remains guided by customs that have changed little over centuries.
Photo Credit: Photo by Michael Jerrard on Unsplash
Broken Hill is a mining town which is also very popular amongst Australian artists. The town is known as ‘Silver City’ and still mines for Silver, lead and zinc today. However there is only one mine that is still open today. When you get here be prepared to change your watches. Although Broken Hill is part of NSW, it is only 509km from Adelaide , whilst 1170km from Sydney. It shares the central time with South Australia, and also shares the same telephone code of 08.
The city is easy to get around, as it is set out as a grid. The main street where you will find shops, restaurants and accommodation is Argent Street. The train station is a shirt walk east from here, and the bus stop is outside the tourist information centre on the next street up from here. There are buses to both Adelaide and Sydney, run by Greyhound Pioneer. You can also get to these places by train. If you are looking at heading over to Perth, you can also hop on the Indian Pacific which passes through.