Córdoba, located in the heart of Andalusia, was once the most advanced city in Western Europe. During the 10th century, it served as the capital of Al-Andalus and was a center for learning, science, and art. Today, visitors walk the same streets that philosophers, poets, and physicians once crossed. The city’s most famous landmark, the Mezquita-Catedral, reflects its layered past. The red and white horseshoe arches inside are one of the most photographed interiors in Spain.

Belém do Pará sits at the edge of the Amazon, where river and bay meet in a landscape with activity and color. The Ver-o-Peso Market spreads along Guajará Bay, welcoming early morning boats laden with fresh fish, herbs, fruits, and Amazonian goods. Recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy, the local cuisine marries Indigenous, Portuguese, and African traditions to create dishes found nowhere else.

Khiva, located in western Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region, is one of Central Asia’s most evocative Silk Road cities. Its walled inner city, known as the Itchan Kala, has preserved a remarkable collection of mud-brick architecture, minarets, mosques, and madrasahs that reflect centuries of Islamic culture and trade. Khiva served as a thriving trading hub and political center, linking merchants and scholars across the desert routes of the region.

Islamic and French influences blend together in charming Casablanca, Morocco’s iconic coastal city. Frequently used as a port for Spanish and Mediterranean cruises, Casablanca lies halfway between Marrakesh and Fes and is the perfect entryway for exploring the rest of Morocco.

Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture is a city where samurai history is tangible. Once a stronghold of the Aizu domain, it played a pivotal role in the late Edo period and the Boshin War.