For those interested in the art of wine and sherry making, you can visit some local manufacturers while in Jerez. Experts will guide you through the process of producing wine and you'll sample some local wines and sherries of exceptional taste. Bodegas Lustau Calle Arcos 53, Jerez +34 956 34 15 97 www.facebook.com/BodegasLustauEn Gonzalez Byass Calle Manuel María González 12, Jerez +34 956 35 70 00 Álvaro Domecq Calle Madre de Dios, Jerez +34 956 33 96 34

While seasoned travellers may venture into Cartagena's gritty Bazurto Market on their own, those not yet toughened by locals-only markets of the region may prefer to explore as part of a guided tour. This sprawling market, where trade starts before the crack of dawn, features incredibly fresh produce and seafood from Cartagena and beyond. Much of it makes its way to the tables of local fine dining establishments within the space of the same day. There is plenty to look at and taste, including local street food and multiple succulent varieties of tropical fruit you're unlikely to have encountered before.

St Peter Island is located off the coast of Sulcis Iglesiente. Despite its location being a bit far from Cagliari if you have enough time, do not miss the chance to visit this heavenly place, whose landscapes include stunning coastlines and beautiful terrain. It is perfect for both beach lovers and sports or trekking enthusiasts.

Enclosed within a protective wall reaching up to 20 metres in width, the Ciudad Amurallada (or Walled City) is Cartagena's old beating heart. Packed with well-preserved colonial buildings, it's a pleasure to stroll through; its streets of colourful low-rise merchant homes marked by iconic balconies are now mostly walked by either tourists or students who attend classes at the University of Cartagena during the day and linger for meals and nightlife after school is out. Cafes in Plaza Aduana and Plaza Santo Domingo teem with patrons, forging an incredibly jovial atmosphere; the districts of San Diego and El Centro are two not to be missed. There is plenty of food and shopping to be had, with a mixed bag of world-class restaurants and street food hawkers and the incredibly photogenic palenqueras — women dressed in vibrantly coloured clothing selling fruit in the streets — images of whom have become emblematic of Colombia as a travel destination.