Alberobello in southern Italy’s Puglia region captures the imagination with its distinctive trulli houses. These structures were built using a dry-stone technique passed down over centuries, without mortar or cement, and their unique form comes from layer upon layer of limestone nestled from nearby fields. Alberobello’s trulli are so remarkable that in 1996 the historic center was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where more than 1,600 of these buildings still stand.

Guatemala is a country where ancient history and living tradition meet in unexpected ways. The ruins of Tikal, once a major center of the Maya civilization, rise from the dense Petén jungle. Visitors can climb stone temples that pierce the forest canopy and listen for howler monkeys echoing through the trees. Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains over 3,000 structures and still holds secrets under layers of earth and vegetation.

Nestled in the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands, Franschhoek is a charming village renowned for its exquisite vineyards and rich history. Founded by French Huguenots in the late 17th century, the village’s French heritage is palpable in its architecture, cuisine, and local culture.

Zamora is a compact city in northwestern Spain, set along the Duero River and known for its remarkable concentration of Romanesque architecture.

Cardigan sits on the west coast of Wales, where the River Teifi reaches the wide sweep of Cardigan Bay. At the heart of town stands Cardigan Castle, where battlements and gardens overlook the Teifi. The castle’s history includes the first recorded National Eisteddfod in Wales, a cultural competition of music, poetry and performance that still inspires events across the country.