Spanning across a lush 15-acre site, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is a stunning destination adorned with elegant Victorian glass houses, showcasing a splendid variety of exotic flora. Within its enchanting grounds, you'll also discover a Bonsai garden, as well as a collection of birds.

What can be seen today of this Renaissance-style palace in the area of Saluzzo dates back to the 16th century, but the location has been a seat of nobility since the Middle Ages (remnants of the original buildings can still be seen in the basement and some aspects of the facade).

The so-called Temple of Hercules (AD 162–166) dominates Amman’s Citadel. These days, archaeologists prefer to call it the Great Temple of Amman, since its dedication remains uncertain. Only six Corinthian columns stand reconstructed today. The rest lie as fragmented drums, their dowel holes revealing Roman engineering techniques. A colossal marble statue once graced the site. All that survives is a weathered elbow and fingers, suggesting a figure over 13 metres tall, likely toppled in the 8th-century earthquake. The temple’s platform doubles as Amman’s premier viewpoint, framing the modern city against the 150-metre Jordanian flag. Excavations nearby expose layers of civilisation: Umayyad palaces, Byzantine churches, and Roman baths intertwine with older Bronze Age ruins. Though the Hercules name persists thanks to the sculptural remnant, archaeologists emphasise the temple’s civic importance. Its sheer scale reflects Amman’s status as a regional hub. Guides prove invaluable for deciphering 9,000 years of history compressed into a single hilltop.

While the University of Bucharest Square saw some of the darkest days of Ceausescu’s regime, events at the Revolution Square heralded the beginning of a new age. Close by is the former Royal Palace, now home to the National Art Museum, the Romanian Athenaeum and the Athenee Palace Hotel.