Known as the Venice of Portugal, Aveiro, located 57 km to the south of Porto, is a charming town surrounded by beaches, lagoons, and beautiful canals that run through it. It is easy to reach Aveiro: several trains leave Porto to Aveiro every day, and the journey takes about an hour.

The so-called Temple of Hercules (AD 162–166) dominates Amman’s Citadel. These days, archaeologists prefer to call it the Great Temple of Amman, since its dedication remains uncertain. Only six Corinthian columns stand reconstructed today. The rest lie as fragmented drums, their dowel holes revealing Roman engineering techniques. A colossal marble statue once graced the site. All that survives is a weathered elbow and fingers, suggesting a figure over 13 metres tall, likely toppled in the 8th-century earthquake. The temple’s platform doubles as Amman’s premier viewpoint, framing the modern city against the 150-metre Jordanian flag. Excavations nearby expose layers of civilisation: Umayyad palaces, Byzantine churches, and Roman baths intertwine with older Bronze Age ruins. Though the Hercules name persists thanks to the sculptural remnant, archaeologists emphasise the temple’s civic importance. Its sheer scale reflects Amman’s status as a regional hub. Guides prove invaluable for deciphering 9,000 years of history compressed into a single hilltop.

The over 100 scientists, educators, researchers and volunteers who work at the Charles Darwin Research Center carry out extensive scientific research and oversee the conservation and safeguarding of the islands' natural resources and wildlife. Visitors are welcome to visit and learn about how they are continuing the scientific inquiries started by Darwin himself, and how their efforts are helping to preserve the wonders of the Galapagos.

One of the island's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the wondrous cliffs of Piana are best seen in the evening when the natural reds of the earth light up in the rays of the setting sun. Another way to see the cliffs is from the water, on a boat cruise in the Gulf of Porto.