Augsburg was founded in 15 BC under the rule of the Roman emperor Augustus. For 400 years the city was the seat of a provincial government of the Roman empire. Its ideal location made it a crossroad of all important routes to the south. An advantage from which the powerful merchants and bankers, the Fugger family and the seafaring Welsers, likewise profited. They elevated Augsburg to rank among the world's most powerful cities. Kings and emperors were frequent guests here.

Lucca, a Tuscan city surrounded by remarkably intact Renaissance walls, offers more than just postcard views. Known for its quiet streets and grand piazzas, Lucca stands apart with its circular street layout, still following the lines of a Roman amphitheater from centuries ago. The walls, now repurposed as a 4-kilometer tree-lined park, are a favorite route for locals and visitors who explore them on foot or by bike, passing old bastions and panoramic viewpoints along the way.

Semarang is a port city on the north coast of Java, shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and cultural exchange. As an important hub during the Dutch colonial period, it developed into a city where Javanese traditions intersect with European and Chinese influences.

Shirley Heights, perched high above English Harbour on Antigua’s southern coast, is one of the island’s most iconic viewpoints. Once a military lookout and signal station during the 18th century, it played a key role in guarding the British naval base at Nelson’s Dockyard.

A shallow lake at over 3200 feet above sea level in central west Kenya, it is the home of the Kamasya and Njamus who raise cattle and crops and fish for tilapia. The lake covers about 50 square miles.