Antigua is a city shaped by centuries of artistry, tradition, and natural forces. Set in a highland valley and surrounded by volcanoes, its streets are lined with colorful buildings, hidden courtyards, and open-air plazas. The Santa Catalina Arch is one of Antigua’s most recognizable features, originally built as a passage between two sections of a convent. Today, it frames a dramatic view of Volcán de Agua and is a popular gathering spot for both locals and visitors.
Corsica is a Mediterranean island and territorial collectivity of France known for a landscape that changes quickly from rocky coastlines to forested mountains and inland valleys. Its main towns include Ajaccio, Bastia, Bonifacio, Calvi, and Porto-Vecchio, while smaller villages are scattered through the interior. The island’s geography gives it a strong regional identity, with the sea, mountains, and maquis scrubland shaping both settlement and daily life.
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, rises on the shores of the Caspian Sea as a city of striking contrasts. Its futuristic skyline, defined by the Flame Towers, glows each evening in waves of light, while the UNESCO-listed Old City preserves centuries of history within its fortified walls.
Erindi Private Game Reserve is a large wildlife area in central Namibia, situated between Windhoek and the coast. The reserve covers a broad landscape of open savanna, dry woodland, rocky hills, and seasonal watercourses. Its name comes from a Herero word meaning “place of water,” reflecting the importance of water sources within the reserve’s semi-arid environment.
Jyväskylä is a city in central Finland surrounded by forests, lakes, and rolling hills, with Lake Jyväsjärvi forming a prominent part of its southern edge. It is the regional center of Central Finland and has a strong connection with education, design, and modern Finnish architecture. The city is known internationally for buildings designed by Alvar Aalto, whose work includes the University of Jyväskylä campus and several civic buildings.
Santa Cruz de La Palma is the capital of the island of La Palma, one of the seven Canary Islands. Although often forgotten in favor of the similarly named Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it is a compact and colorful colonial town well worth a visit. Swimming, paragliding, and hiking and some of the most popular daytime activities, while stargazing is a favorite pastime after the sun goes down. La Palma was recently name as a "Starlight Reserve," which means the island is committed to preserving the quality of the night sky as well as increasing access to viewing opportunities.
Other Popular Destinations in Canary Islands
Las Palmas
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.
Tenerife Island
Tenerife is the largest isle of the Canary Islands archipelago. Famous for its black and yellow sand beaches as well as Mt. Teide, the dormant volcano that looms over the island.