Plaça de la Independència is the elegant neoclassical heart of Girona, designed by Martí Sureda in the 19th century on the site of a former Augustine convent. Its porticoed arches frame a lively scene of locals and visitors dining or sipping coffee under the shade. The square’s name honours Girona’s defenders during the 1808–1809 siege by Napoleonic forces, a struggle memorialised by Antoni Parera’s central monument in 1894. By day, it’s a prime spot for people-watching; by night, the terraces fill with revellers enjoying tapas and evening drinks. An essential stop for both history and atmosphere.

Housed within the historic Episcopal Palace that dates back to the 10th century, the Museu d'Art de Girona boasts the most important art collection in the province. Its chronologically arranged galleries guide visitors through Catalan artistic evolution, from striking Romanesque altarpieces and Gothic gold-leaf panels to Renaissance sculptures and Modernista works by artists like Santiago Rusiñol. Notable highlights include the 9th-century liturgical treasures from Sant Pere de Rodes, a 15th-century illuminated martyrology, and hauntingly beautiful Romanesque woodcarvings. The palace itself is a masterpiece. Don’t miss the medieval gaol and the serene gardens. Room 8, draped in Gothic religious art, feels like stepping into a cathedral shrine. With over 8,500 works and a programme of temporary exhibitions, this museum offers a profound dive into the region’s soul, all within a stone’s throw of Girona Cathedral.

Cruises on the spooky loch in search of the elusive monster are offered by several companies based around Inverness. Jacobite Cruises offers several itineraries.

Dozens of venomous pit vipers slither and coil among the urns, roof beams and potted trees within this bizarre Chinese temple, built in 1850, and sacred to the deity Chro Soo Kong. The snakes – regarded as benevolent spirits – are seen as guardians of the temple.