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Trujillo had its golden age in the 16th century when the riches from the recently colonized South American territories contributed to building palaces and churches.  Plaza Mayor, where most of the new palaces were built, includes an imposing statue of Francisco Pizarro, the most famous conquistador originating from Trujillo. However, the story of Trujillo begins long before, in prehistoric times. It was known as Turgalium during the Roman period when Trujillo was part of the province of Lusitania.  It was later colonized by the Visigoths and conquered by the Moors in the early 8th century. After centuries o Moorish rule, Trujillo was definitely recaptured by the Christian armies in 1232. In the following centuries, the most prosperous residents moved out of the castle walls and began building downhill around the Plaza Mayor.   How to go: You can take a direct bus from Madrid Estacion Sur to Trujillo, which takes about 3 hours ("Exp...

The Church of Santa Maria Mayor was probably built on top of a mosque, used until the 13th century, which in turn had been built on top of a Visigothic temple. The church was built after the conquest of Trujillo, in the 13th century and since then has been the most important religious building in Trujillo. It underwent major restoration in the 16th century, a century of economic prosperity due to the riches arriving from South America, but preserves many of its Romanesque and Gothic features. Hence, only the eastern tower and the transept remain from the original Romanesque church; the central nave and the two side naves were added in the 14th century while the ribbed vaults and the second tower were added when the 16th-century renovations were made. Artistically the most interesting items are the splendid wood ornamentations on the altar, by painter Fernando Gallego. Opening hours: 10 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm (4.30 pm to 7.30 pm from Nov. to Mar.) Entrance fee: €1.50...

Less interesting than its exterior suggests, due to the many renovations, the Palace of the Golfines de Abajo is still worth the visit for its many interesting items and for the armoury, with its original 16th-century frescoes. The Palace started being built by order of Alonso Golfin, right after Cáceres was recaptured from the Moors. The facade was concluded under his son's orders, in the 16th century. The armoury, which depicts the Golfines' genealogy in an original fresco from the 16th century, is the oldest room in the Palace. Opening hours : Guided tours, Tue. to Sat. at 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 5 pm, 6 pm and 7 pm (half an hour earlier in the afternoon, in Winter); Sun. 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm and 1 pm. Entrance fee : €2.5 Back to Caceres Palace's website Palace's website

The walls around Chania were originally built in antiquity. The inner walls were rebuilt by the Byzantine Empire in the 6th and 7th centuries and again in the 10th century after being destroyed by the Arab attackers. The outer walls were built by the Republic of Venice in the 16th century. The Firkas fortress was built in 1620 to defend Chania's harbour and control its entrance. During Turkish domination the fortress was used as a barrack, getting its current designation, Firka. Today it houses the Maritime Museum of Crete. Back to Chania

The Old town of Rethymnon combines the Oriental features of the Turkish Period with the Renaissance-style Venetian architecture. In 1571, during the Turkish siege- after which the Fortezza was built- most buildings of Gothic features were destroyed and most of the city had to be rebuilt in the fourth quarter of the 16th century. Building styles then changed during the Turkish occupation, when the dressed stone of the Venetians was replaced by the wooden frames of the Turkish. How to go: By bus from Heraklion ( KTEL ). What to see: Fortezza Harbour Lake Kournas Rimondi Fountain

The museum houses a collection of garments by designers like Balenciaga and Dior. It also includes traditional costumes and garments that have been used by famous Spanish artists and celebrities.The museum was inaugurated in 2015 and covers the period from the late 19th century to the late 20th century. The museum is located in Saint Francis convent which was built in the late 15th century on top of a Mosque. The convent was enlarged and renovated several times until de 18th century. It was desacralized in the 19th century with the extinction of religious orders in Spain. Opening hours: 10 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm. Entrance fee:  €1.40

The river beach of Mondim da Beira is located along the Varosa river, in Northern Portugal. It is dominated by a Romanesque bridge built in the 13th century and along the riverbank there are a few water mills.  The beach has a bar and a small strip of sand. There's also a baby pool. How to go: Public transport is scarce in this region so the best option is to go by car.

The Gallery of Evolution stands at the formal end of the Jardin des Plantes. It's housed in a 19th-century glass-roofed building and was inaugurated in 1889, shortly after the inauguration of the Eifel Tower. However, it was closed in 1966 and reopened only in 1994, after significant works of renovation. The public exhibition includes 9500 specimens, a small proportion of the almost 75 million under the museum's care. The centrepiece of the museum is a procession of African wildlife, on the first floor. Opening hours: 10h-18h, closed on Tuesdays, Dec. 25, Jan. 1 and May 1. Entrance fee: €9 How to go:  line 5 Gare d’Austerlitz, line 7 Censier Daubenton, line 10 Jussieu