Ilha Grande, an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, is a place where tropical forest and coastline meet in striking harmony. Once a pirate hideout and later the site of a penal colony, it has evolved into one of Brazil’s most remarkable island destinations. With no cars allowed and no large resorts, the island moves at a different pace, where footpaths and boats are the main ways to get around.

Vatican City is a sovereign city-state enclosed within Rome and the smallest independent state in the world by territory. Its compact area contains major religious, artistic, and architectural landmarks associated with the Catholic Church. At its center is St Peter’s Square, framed by the sweeping colonnade designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and leading to St Peter’s Basilica, built over the traditional site of the tomb of the Apostle Peter.

Linderhof is a palace complex in Bavaria, Germany, located in the secluded Graswang Valley near Ettal and surrounded by the mountains and forests of the Ammergau Alps.

Petrified Forest National Park stretches across the colorful high desert of northeastern Arizona, where grasslands, mesas, badlands, and ancient fossil deposits form an unusual landscape. The park is best known for its extensive petrified wood, much of it preserved from trees that lived in a river environment more than 200 million years ago.

Vaavu Atoll lies south of Malé and is known for its relatively small population, numerous uninhabited islands, clear lagoons, and extensive coral reefs. Felidhoo is the administrative capital, while Thinadhoo, Keyodhoo, and Fulidhoo are among the better-known inhabited islands. The atoll has a quieter character than the more developed areas closer to the capital, with guesthouses, fishing communities, and resorts spread across separate islands.