Picton, located at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound in New Zealand’s Marlborough region, is a charming gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and the South Island. The town is known for its scenic harbor, where ferries connect the North and South Islands, and as a hub for exploring the intricate waterways, bays, and coves that define this coastal region.
Polonnaruwa, located in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province, served as the island’s capital nearly a thousand years ago. Today, it offers one of the most extensive and well-preserved archaeological sites in South Asia. Visitors can walk among the ruins of royal palaces, Buddhist monasteries, and intricately carved stone temples. One of the highlights of Polonnaruwa is the Gal Vihara, a group of colossal Buddha statues carved directly into granite.
Kisoro is a small town in southwestern Uganda, set in the highlands near the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It serves as an important gateway to the Virunga Mountains and has long been shaped by its position at the crossroads of cultures, trade routes, and protected landscapes.
Matera, one of Italy's most enchanting cities, is a living testament to human resilience and creativity. Nestled in the southern region of Basilicata, Matera is renowned for its ancient cave dwellings, known as the Sassi. These prehistoric stone houses, carved directly into the limestone rock, date back thousands of years, making Matera one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.