At first, one man’s dream of creating his own castle had many people shaking their heads. But the simple postman Ferdinand Cheval struggled for 33 years, stone by stone, to create a castle, which is now world famous for its mythical scenes.

Siena still runs on medieval time—in the best way. Its centre hasn’t changed much in centuries, and that’s part of the charm. The Piazza del Campo is the heart of it all—it’s where the Palio horse race happens twice a year. Climb the Torre del Mangia for wide views across the rooftops. The cathedral’s worth the time, especially its black-and-white striped interior, detailed floor mosaics (open seasonally), and the Piccolomini Library tucked inside. Don’t skip the crypt or the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo—they’re quieter and give you a different angle on the city.

At Alofaaga Blowholes, witness jets of water forced hundreds of feet in the air. These impressive blowholes are found near the village of Taga, on southwest Savaii, so come here to have a look and if you are lucky you also notice some locals throwing coconuts into the holes, which then are blasted back into the air!