County Kildare is home to the windswept Bog of Allen, and to a leisurely section of the restored Royal Canal. There’s a masterpiece of an 8th-century High Cross in Moone. Maynooth Castle anchors the leafy university town of the same name. Kildare is also home to one of Ireland’s great driving routes. Following the course of the Gordon Bennett Cup, which saw racing daredevils whizz through Kildare, Carlow and Laois in 1903, the 104-mile circuit recalls a time when Ireland’s speed limit was just 12mph. The county is a marvellous mix of old and new, of natural landscapes and precisely manicured gardens, of horseracing competitions and stylish fashion events.

In Belém (situated west of the city along the river) lies Lisbon’s, and possibly Portugal’s, most important historical monument. Here you can see an opulent church and cloistered garden built in the elegant Manuelian style at the beginning of the 16th century, when Portugal was a great seafaring power. Within walking distance of many other sights, the Gothic Jerónimos Monastery is a must-see on any itinerary.

Nairobi has a remarkable Muslim community, with mosques and landmarks ubiquitous in the city. Jamia Mosque is the largest of them all, and boasts a one-of-a-kind view in the city's skyline with its two minarets and three silver domes. The place is open to anyone who wants to learn more about Islam and the Arabic culture in general.