Ancient Discovery 2

'Aqaba is an exciting, multi-faceted city.

It is historic city on the Gulf of 'Aqaba, with mosques, castles and ruins. Mamluk Fort, which dates back to the 1500s, is often called Aqaba Castle, was built during the reign of Qansur Al-Ghuri, was once a military site and is now a popular tourist attraction. THe Shariff Al Hussein Bin Ali Mosque is a stunning mosque, inside and out, and ideal place to visit for anyone interested in Islamic culture. 

'Aqaba is also an idyllic seaside resort in Jordan and playground of the rich and famous, with a lively nightlife scene, long sandy beaches, extravagent resorts and a rich marina full of impressive yachts. 

It has an ancient souk in the centre of the city, which sells spices, artisan crafts and fresh produce.

The city's beachside location means it also offers dive spots, snorkelling and boat rides. 

It is located just two hours' away from Petra and Wadi Rum, so is often the port to reach these major attractions from. 

With more than six millennia under its belt, Larnaca is the stuff of Biblical legend. It’s one of the oldest lived-in cities in the world, and the story goes the original town was founded by Noah’s grandson. With that in mind, expect plenty in the way of historical sites, with the likes of St John’s Cathedral and the Church of St Lazarus on the cards. And that’s just half the story. The city’s got a modern side, too, with a palm-lined promenade, a swish marina, and a great shopping scene to its name.

Legendary hangout of Queen Cleopatra, Alanya’s two-faced for all the right reasons. On the one hand an ancient Seljuk city, on the other a slick beach resort, it’s a place where old meets new and the pair get along famously. Walk around and you’ll notice a lot of places with Cleopatra in their names, even one of the beaches. It’s no coincidence. In 44BC, Mark Antony presented the town to his girlfriend as a present. And as gifts go, it takes some beating…

• Make your way to the Manavgat Waterfalls, where the river water crashes over low rocks. With their mountain backdrop, these falls are certainly worth some space in your holiday album.
• You can’t miss it – and you wouldn’t want to for that matter. In the centre of the port is a huge headland topped with a 13th-century Seljuk fortress. About 150 towers punctuate the walls of this splendid citadel. Delve inside and you’ll come across old gateways, Byzantine chapels and mosques.
• Take a trip to the Damlatas Cave, or Cave of Dripping Stone. This eerie spot has been decorated by Mother Nature herself with some really surreal rock formations.
• For an even bigger history fix, head for ancient Perge and Aspendos, and pick a path through the ruined temples, theatres and aqueducts.

A major commercial port, cruise ship port of call, and wine-making center on the south coast, Limassol, 75 km (47 miles) from Nicosia, is a bustling, cosmopolitan town, with some of the liveliest nightlife on the island. Luxury hotels, apartments, and guesthouses stretch along 12 km (7 miles) of seafront, with the most luxurious ones just to the north of town. In the center, the elegant, modern shops of Makarios Avenue (where you'll mainly find clothes and shoes) contrast with those of pedestrian-only Agiou Andreou in the old part of town, where local handicrafts such as lace, embroidery, and basketware prevail; make sure you avoid shopping on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, when many shops close at 2 pm. A luxurious marina that will hold 650 yachts as well as house apartments, shops, and restaurants should further boost the town's lively appeal.

Souda sits just 15 minutes’ drive from Chania – one of Crete’s most charming cities. Most snap-happy tourists pin the old harbour on their maps. It’s as pretty as a picture, with a lighthouse, pastel-painted buildings and a café-lined promenade. If that’s not enough of a history fix, there are plenty of museums to delve into – with really scenic settings. The Maritime Museum’s housed in a former Venetian prison, while the Archaeological Museum’s tucked inside a Gothic church.

• Swap the beach for Lake Kournas. A 40-minute drive from Souda, this mountain-cuddled lake boasts cyan-blue waters and a ring of sunbed-loaded pebbles.
• Work your way along Chania’s Skridlof Street, AKA Leather Lane. It’s stuffed with shops selling shoes, bags and belts, as well as occasional non-leather items, like jewellery and clothes.
• Spend the day exploring the Akrotiri peninsula – just north of Souda. This barren headland’s home to a couple of peaceful monasteries, plus the spectacular Stavros Beach.

Malta's capital, the minicity of Valletta, has ornate palaces and museums protected by massive fortifications of honey-color limestone. Houses along the narrow streets have overhanging wooden balconies for people-watching from indoors. Generations ago they gave housebound women a window on the world of the street. The main entrance to town is through the City Gate (where all bus routes end), which leads onto Triq Repubblika (Republic Street), the spine of the grid-pattern city and the main shopping street. Triq Mercante (Merchant Street) parallels Repubblika to the east and is also good for strolling. From these two streets, cross streets descend toward the water; some are stepped. Valletta's compactness makes it ideal to explore on foot. City Gate and the upper part of Valletta are experiencing vast redevelopment that includes a new Parliament Building and open-air performance venue. The complex, completed mid-2013, has numerous pedestrian detours in place along with building noise and dust. Before setting out along Republic Street, stop at the tourist information office on Merchant Street for maps and brochures.

Mallorca's greatest treasure, the resort city of Palma is the capital of this Spanish island.  Richly studded with historical sites, a venture from the massive Santa María Cathedral you’ll discover Almudaina - a Moorish-style Arab fortress converted to a royal residence, or Bellver Castle - a medieval fortress with a distinctive circular shape (22 mins away from the city centre). 

Things To See, Do & Taste In Palma:

• See:  Santa María Cathedral.
• Do:  Serra de Tramuntana mountain with boat & vintage train tour.
• Taste:  Sobrassada - A raw, cured spreadable sausage made with ground pork, paprika, salt and other spices.