Synagogues, mosques and churches stand together in Toledo's historic quarter, a testament to the medieval Spanish city's diverse history. The four towers of The Alcazar, a fortress built in 1085, dominate the skyline. Toledo and its surrounding countryside inspired El Greco, and his paintings are on display in many places around the city, including the museum that bears his name.

Castile-La Mancha, a Spanish land of craggy cliffs, golden fields and red soil, produces savoury Manchego cheese, olives, saffron and more than its share of mystery. Chase the enduring legend of Don Quixote among the windmills of Campo de Criptana. Pass through the Bisagra Gate to experience the walled city of Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage site that pays stylistic tribute to the Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures. In Guadalajara, palaces and Baroque churches capture the imagination.

The fishing town of Tavira combines two Mediterranean staples: Moorish architecture and a golden beach. Here, a labyrinth of cobbled streets winds past houses tiled in the traditional Portuguese style, and the pace of life flows as gently as the Gilão River.

With about 120,000 people, Stavanger is Norway’s fourth-largest city and a fascinating mix of old and new. Its history stretches back deep into the Middle Ages. Stavanger was once a tranquil coastal market town and then later an important fishing port. But it was the 1969 discovery of oil offshore that forever changed the now bustling city’s fortunes and landscape. Don’t miss the well-preserved old town (Gamle Stavanger), the unique Canning Museum or the 12th-century Stavanger Cathedral.