Dedicated to the Romantic poets — Keats, Shelley, and Byron — who each stayed in Rome and died tragically young, this charming period house contains a chain of rooms lined with rare books and relics, including Keats' last resting place. There's also a gift shop, an introductory film, and a spacious terrace.

Just a 15 minute plane ride from Panama City, Contadora Island is a great escape with white sand beaches and calm blue waters. Contadora is also a good base for exploring the neighboring islands. Some of the activities include whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking and touring around the island by scooter. Contadora has an interesting history. In the days of the pirates, the island was used to store and count gold (hence the name) and later, in the 1960s, it became the place for Panamanian and international holiday homes, which can still be seen today lining the shore of the island.

In the year 64 AD, Emperor Nero built a palace almost one mile long — stretching from Palatine Hill all the way to Oppio Hill. Some parts were covered in gold, precious stones and featured splendid decor. After Nero’s death, it was filled in with earth to obliterate the tyrant’s memory. It was accidentally rediscovered in the 15th century, and today, you can walk through 30 of Nero’s 150 underground rooms.

The Santa Clara Monastery & Museum has a long and interesting history, from being an Arab palace to becoming a monastery. The museum holds an exhibition of archaeological remains and religious art.