Built on the land occupied earlier by the Corpus Christi hospital, one of the city's medieval hospitals. In 1558 the city exchanged plots with Archishop Esteban Almeyda and the hospital was relocated to the Parish of Santiago. The building may have started in the 16th Century, soon after the establishment of the Orihuela Bishopric. It underwent profound changes in the 18th Century under the reigns of Bishops José Flores Ososrio and Pedro Albornoa Tapia. In the mid-20th century, it lost its original functions, was restored at the beginning of the 21st Century and is currently home to the Diocese Museum of Sacred Art. At the back, facing the river, there is a gallery with semi-circular arches. Inside, another striking feature is the cloister with heraldic decoration, the main staircase of Alicante marble and the dome built on an octagonal base, with exterior cobalt blue glazed tiles.

Some places are so beautiful that they leave you speechless. The Beguinage is just such a place. This is where the beguines — emancipated women who lived pious and chaste lives without taking holy orders — once lived together in harmony. This walled oasis of religious peace, with its delightful inner garden, wind-twisted trees and white-painted gables, can charm even the most cynical of souls with its deafening silence.

This majestic mausoleum dedicated to the 'Father of Modern Tunisia' Habib Bourguiba is decked out from top to bottom with white marble and decorative touches of emerald green, making it gleam in the hot sun of Monastir. The two towers poised on either side of the entrance to the tomb resemble the minarets of a typical Maghreb mosque. Indeed, most of the architecture that was designed by French architect Olivier Clement Cacoub bears a strong resemblance to traditional Islamic places of worship. Inside the mausoleum lies the Tunisian president of the 1960s, encased in an ornate marble sarcophagus which can be viewed up close on the ground floor or from above by accessing the balcony through an unassuming door to the right of the main entrance. Although it is free to enter the mausoleum, some may prefer to gain further insight into the history of the building by booking a tour from one of the licensed tour operators in the main city. It is inadvisable to hire the services of those guides operating within or beside the grounds of the mausoleum as most are unqualified. Opening times may vary and if the main entrance is closed, visitors can enter through a separate entrance on the other side of the building.

Perched atop a towering rock platform in Bonifacio, just 12 kilometres from Sardinia, Italy, is the island's oldest citadel. This must-visit attraction exudes a relaxed and uncomplicated vibe that feels more like southern Italy than France. Its dramatic location adds to its charm and makes it a unique experience.