The Cave of the Seven Sleepers in ar-Rajib village ties Islamic tradition to physical geography. According to the Quran, devout youths fleeing Roman persecution around AD 250 took refuge here, awakening 309 lunar years later in a testament to divine protection. The site, rediscovered in 1951, now includes a mosque built above the cavern, where an imam often explains the story’s theological importance. Visitors enter through the mosque (head cover required for women) to see the rock-hewn cave and adjacent Byzantine-era tombs. Unlike ornate shrines, the site’s power lies in its simplicity: the low-ceilinged grotto and quiet courtyard encourage reflection. While Jordan isn’t the only country claiming this legend (others exist in Turkey and Syria), the presence of 3rd-century Christian graves lends archaeological weight.

Animal lovers and eco-warriors will adore Dunedin’s abundant wildlife. The albatross, for example, can fly with its three-metre wingspan at speeds of up to 115 kilometres per hour. You have the chance to see these majestic creatures from the observatory at Dunedin’s Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head.

Housed inside a former castle, and with splendid park grounds in its immediate surroundings, the Quiñones de León Museum is worth the short trip from central Vigo if only for its well-maintained French garden (some say, a miniature of the one in Versailles). The museum itself contains archaeological artefacts discovered in Vigo and surroundings.