Housed within the historic Episcopal Palace that dates back to the 10th century, the Museu d'Art de Girona boasts the most important art collection in the province. Its chronologically arranged galleries guide visitors through Catalan artistic evolution, from striking Romanesque altarpieces and Gothic gold-leaf panels to Renaissance sculptures and Modernista works by artists like Santiago Rusiñol. Notable highlights include the 9th-century liturgical treasures from Sant Pere de Rodes, a 15th-century illuminated martyrology, and hauntingly beautiful Romanesque woodcarvings. The palace itself is a masterpiece. Don’t miss the medieval gaol and the serene gardens. Room 8, draped in Gothic religious art, feels like stepping into a cathedral shrine. With over 8,500 works and a programme of temporary exhibitions, this museum offers a profound dive into the region’s soul, all within a stone’s throw of Girona Cathedral.

Recharge your batteries with a traditional Arab bath experience — rotating between hot and cold pools, steam rooms, and optional massages. The space is calm and atmospheric, with arches, mosaics, and soft lighting that make it feel miles away from the city, even though you’re right in the centre. Good spot for a proper reset after a long day of sightseeing.

Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, stands about 3,330 metres high between Catania and Taormina. It erupts regularly and since 2002 visitors are not allowed to climb to the top of any of its four craters (hiking up is allowed). Regular buses depart for Etna from Catania.

Saline Beach is St Barts’ untamed coastal masterpiece — a crescent of powdery sand where turquoise waves meet rugged hills in perfect harmony. The journey begins with a 200-metre trek through scrubland and over a low dune, rewarding visitors with a vista of undeveloped shoreline where the only distractions are seabirds and the rhythmic crash of surf. On a clear day, direct your gaze past the green dot of Île Coco and you'll just be able to spot St Kitts on the horizon. Come prepared: shade is scarce and facilities nonexistent. What you’ll find instead is raw beauty; the kind that draws naturists and photographers, all chasing that rare blend of wildness and tropical splendor. Time your visit for late afternoon when the light gilds the salt pond’s edges (the same salty pound that gave the beach its name), and you’ll understand why this beach remains the island’s best-kept escape.