Near the Stock Palace and the Douro River is another UNESCO World Heritage site that is well worth visit while in Porto, the Monument Church of St Francis, or Igreja Monumento de São Francisco. This church built around the 14th century has one of Europe's most sumptuous and extravagant interiors. Here, all that glitter is, in fact, gold! Its interior is covered in gilded woodwork, and rumour has it that it was used around 400 to 600 kg of gold to decorate it. Hence why the St Francis Church is also known as "The Golden Church". Another highlight of this church is its impressive Tree of Jesse, a wooden sculpture carved by Filipe da Silva and António Gomes in 1718 depicting the ancestors of Jesus Christ, shown in a branching tree — considered to be one of the best in the world of its kind. Under the church, you will find the catacombs, where the Franciscan monks along with the members of Porto's noble families are buried.

Cala Mastella is a small, quiet spot with clear water that's great for snorkeling. There’s a laid-back beach bar on the left, and if you follow the rocky path to the right, you’ll come across Bigotes—a no-frills seafood place that’s as local as it gets.

Every major community in Bhutan has its own dzong, a centre for religious, civic and administrative life, but none is quite as magnificent as Thimphu's Tashichho Dzong. Though this iteration was built in the 18th century, there has been a dzong at this site since 1216, making it one of the most important religious and political places in the country.