According to the written tradition, a Francis-can monk named Joakim Balagović brought Our Lady’s statue from the Holy Land in 1669 as a gift for his brother Nikola who lived just by the road at Trški vrh. When the unfortunate Nikola’s house caught fire and burned to the ground, the statue was found untouched in the ashes. Nikola then put it in the hollow walnut tree near his house and that’s where the first worshiping of the statue began.

The scenic stretch of highway N3 that runs from Fort-de-France all the way to Mount Pelée, better known as Route de la Trace, follows an old route carved out by the Jesuit missionaries of the 1600s, running through beautiful expanses of thick rainforest. Stunning hiking trails branch off from the main route should be thoroughly explored to get an idea of the wild natural beauty of Martinique.

The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts offers a refreshing counterpoint to Amman’s ancient ruins. It showcases contemporary works from across the Islamic world in two airy buildings that flank a sculpture-dotted park. Founded in 1980 under royal patronage, its collection spans 2,000 pieces: from provocative Palestinian installations to delicate Sudanese weavings. Be sure to check the rotating exhibitions in Building 1. Building 2 anchors the experience. Start at the ground-floor, then work your way up through bold Jordanian abstracts before rewarding yourself at the top-floor café. Its terrace overlooks Jabal al-Luweibdeh’s artsy rooftops, perfect for reflecting over mint tea after browsing the art library’s curated books. Free from crowds (and mercifully air-conditioned), it’s where Amman’s creative pulse feels most immediate.