The vast park surrounding the summer residence of the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, is where Varsovians like to go for longer walks. The park is home to a winter garden, an amphitheatre, and even a Chinese garden. The biggest attraction, however, are the park’s permanent residents: the squirrels and peacocks. Another site worth seeing is the classicist Palace on the isle, with its enchanting interior design and gallery of paintings. The park is famous for its Chopin concerts, which take place from mid-May to the end of September every Sunday at noon and 4 pm. Come lounge on the grass and enjoy the music.

Built between 527 and 565 AD at the foot of Mount Sinai for Emperor Justinian, this monastery later took its name from St Catherine of Alexandria, whose remains are said to rest here. It’s more fortress than church, with thick stone walls guarding the Church of the Transfiguration, the chapel of the Burning Bush, and a monks-only library packed with ancient manuscripts. Inside, you’ll find mosaics, religious ornaments, and some of the oldest illuminated manuscripts in the world on display. Outside, don’t miss Moses’ Well and the garden with centuries of history. The place is open most mornings but closed on Fridays, Sundays, and Orthodox feast days. Still active today, the monastery holds importance across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and continues its Greek Orthodox traditions uninterrupted.

Surrounded by waters as clear as the Caribbean's, in a fishy haven just off the coast of Corsica, the Îles Lavezzi offer intrepid travellers a world of uncharted marvels. This granite straight separating Corsica from Sardinia was the cause of the famous wreckage of Semillante, a French frigate that crashed into the dense reef in 1855. Make sure to bring essentials like water, food, and parasols as there are no shops on the islands. To get there, either rent a private boat or take the ferry from the port of Bonifacio.

This modest church next to the harbour is dedicated to Saint Erasme, the patron saint of seamen. A few commemorative benches, decorative offerings in the form of fishing boats and a spirit of quietness and contemplation make it worth a visit.