Historical destinations

Beirut is the perfect destination for seasoned travellers: here, East and West intertwine in intricate ways, creating a city so magnetic that few are able to resist its powerful draw. Much has changed over the latter half of the twentieth century – Beirut rising to become glitterati central in the 60s but falling from grace during the bloody Civil War – but the city is alive and kicking, enticing travellers with superb gastronomy, the Middle East's most vibrant nightlife and a close proximity to the ancient towns of Byblos and Baalbek.

In the Alpine foothills, just 50 km from Milan, Bergamo is the most striking city in Lombardy. Structured in two levels, the lower city is more modern and dynamic, whilst the famous ‘upper city’ boasts a stunning historic centre full of monuments and works of art. In the area around the city the Iseo Lake is well worth a visit, as is the sanctuary at Caravaggio and Crespi d’Adda – the most important company town in Italy, listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Cave Creek, Arizona is an archeologist’s dream. Myriads of Hopi Indian tribal artifacts line the mountainsides and stone formations, and the flora is entirely unique to the region. Naturally, Cave Creek shares the abundant sunshine and divine landscape of greater Arizona, which consequently draws countless visitors each year to its location. The lifestyle of this city is entirely Western, with rural development, open trails, spaces and wildlife habitats, and overwhelmingly fantastic views.

The Island of Hawaii is known colloquially as “Big Island.” This is a fitting nickname, for the Island is twice the combined size of its neighboring counterparts! Big Island flaunts its colors like the plumes of a peacock: fierce reds of magma from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park contrast spectacularly with the bright white snow of Maunakea, while the electric black sands of Punaluu Beach stream into the emerald green of Hamakua Coast’s rainforests.

Brunei was once a very important trade hub that connected Asia with the rest of the world, and still today it attracts workers, migrants, and travelers from all corners of the globe. The capital Bandar Seri Begawan encompasses the country's captivating mix of Malay culture, the Islamic faith, a vast international community and spectacular wealth, which combined result in an infinitely interesting city dominated by an array of beautiful mosques, a fascinating floating city, and the world's largest royal palace.

Located in the beautiful county of Devon, this small but perfectly formed city has preserved many of its historic features while enjoying all the amenities and vibrancy of a modern cosmopolitan hub. Exeter is a perfect base to explore the surrounding English countryside dotted with pretty villages, quaint old pubs and tearooms serving the famous Devon cream tea. All of this comes with the added bonus of being only a short journey to the nearby coastal resorts, fishing ports and sandy beaches of the English Riviera and the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

Brussels, a city that continues to surprise and move you. This city-region-capital of 500 million Europeans is waiting to share its treasures with you. It’s a fair bet that its stormy history is the reason for its open-mindedness, warmth and friendliness. You’ll feel right at home in Brussels! As well as its historic monuments, Brussels has so much to share with you: its comic strip speech bubbles, its Art Nouveau façades, the talent of its stylists and designers, its delicacies and its surrealism, which can be found on every street corner.

Bratislava - the little big city. With fewer than half a million people, Bratislava ranks among Europe's most relaxed capitals, because everything is in close vicinity, reachable within a few minutes walking distance. It even has two capital cities nearby - Vienna (80km) and Budapest (200km) - reachable also by a boat on the river Danube. The city itself has its old-town charm, sophisticated restaurants, traditional pubs, good music ranging from jazz to opera, stylish people, and a human scale which means that as a visitor you will not spend half your day trekking in and out of underground stations or getting from the airport into town. All this with Central Europe's greatest river as a backdrop.