Built between 527 and 565 AD at the foot of Mount Sinai for Emperor Justinian, this monastery later took its name from St Catherine of Alexandria, whose remains are said to rest here. It’s more fortress than church, with thick stone walls guarding the Church of the Transfiguration, the chapel of the Burning Bush, and a monks-only library packed with ancient manuscripts. Inside, you’ll find mosaics, religious ornaments, and some of the oldest illuminated manuscripts in the world on display. Outside, don’t miss Moses’ Well and the garden with centuries of history. The place is open most mornings but closed on Fridays, Sundays, and Orthodox feast days. Still active today, the monastery holds importance across Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and continues its Greek Orthodox traditions uninterrupted.

On the appropriately named island of Sal (salt in English), just to the east of Espargos, is the 1.8-kilometre wide crater of Pedra de Lume, an extinct volcano crater which is now home to the Pedra de Lume Salt Flats. Though salt extraction is now inactive, it is still a fascinating visit and an interesting view, with white fields of salt and a natural lake filling the crater.

This museum is housed in a former convent next to the church of San Domenico. It has an extensive archaeological collection including a lot of Etruscan artefacts. This place is a must for everyone with the slightest interest of history.

Pico do Fogo, Cape Verde's youngest and most active volcano, towers beautifully but menacingly over the island of Fogo. The mesmerising black volcanic soil is reminiscent of similar fiery peaks in Hawaii and Iceland and is used to grow coffee. A small community, Chã das Caldeiras, is precariously located in the caldera very near the peak, and adventurers can hike up the imposing 2,829 metres for unparalleled views of the island.