The beguinages of Flanders and the Netherlands are always oases of calm and stillness, where you might still expect to see an old beguine mumbling her prayers in a doorway. Two of Ghent’s three beguinages have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Although the Old St Elizabeth Beguinage, in Begijnhofdries in Ghent, is no longer enclosed by a wall, making it simply part of the city, it still has a unique atmosphere. Today the Old St Elizabeth Beguinage is known as ‘holy corner’, a place of religious tolerance, because it has no less than three different churches: one is Roman Catholic, one is Orthodox and the other is Protestant. From bleachfield to orchard This open beguinage grew into something of a ‘beguine city’ in the 13th century, with a church, the ‘Grootjuffer’s House’, an infirmary, a chapel, more than a hundred houses for beguines, a bleachfield (a field where linen was laid out to bleach) and an orchard. After the French Revolution, with increasing industrialisation, the inhabitants moved to their new beguinage in Sint-Amandsberg in 1873.

The Archaeological Museum of Egnazia, situated beyond the walls of ancient Gnathia within the Messapian necropolis, offers a captivating journey through thirty centuries of history. From its significant Bronze Age settlement to its role as a Messapian and Roman city and later an episcopal seat in late antiquity, the museum's exceptional collection of exhibits vividly retraces the remarkable heritage of this ancient site.

The Altamura Cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded by Emperor Frederick II of Swabia in 1232. This is an important symbol of the town's history and one of the four Palatine cathedrals of Puglia (the others are San Nicola in Bari, Barletta Cathedral, and Acquaviva Cathedral). The Cathedral has gone through major changes and is today an interesting tourist attraction.

Come experience the Sonoran Desert on horseback with Cave Creek Trail Rides. Not only is the ride a great way to take in the natural beauty of Arizona, but it’s also a historical perspective of Cave Creek’s mining past. The horses are kind and gentle, adding to the guidance of the cowboys and cowgirls who lead the way. You can even suit up in the hats, boots, and chaps of the traditional cowboy if you like.