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The Hôtel de Sully, near Place des Vosges, was built in 1625 by order of Mesme Gallet. Not being a noble, this was a way of improving his social status, as the hôtel was close to the aristocratic Place des Vosges. However, he went bankrupt a few years later and, after changing owners a few time, the hôtel was bought by the Duke of Sully. It stayed in the Sully family until the mid 18th century when it was sold off and successively had a number of owners who eventually transformed it to rent rooms and shops to merchants, craftsmen and other tenants- the hôtel's aristocratic days were over. In 1920 the hôtel was bought by the Countess of Béhogue who intended to restore it to its original state. However, when she passed away in 1939, the works were far from finished. The hôtel was bought by the French State in 1944 and restoration began in the 1950s. The building has been used as the seat of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux since 1967. It isn't usually open to the publi...

Sea Life Porto is an aquarium with over 5.000 animals, of about 100 species, including turtles, sharks, manta rays and sea horses. The main attractions are the underwater tunnel and the interactive fish tank. There is a total of 31 aquariums. Particularly oriented for children, visiting this aquarium is like entering the scenery of a marine fairytale or a pirate's adventure story. Opening hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (7 p.m. on weekends; plus one hour in July and August) Entrance fee (standard): €9.50 How to go: Buses 203, 205, 500; Matosinhos Sul metro station (20 min. walk to the aquarium). For more information, access the Oporto transports website .

Spinalonga, also known as Kalydon, is a small island off the coast of Crete, near Elounda. Due to its strategical location, it was fortified in the 16th century by the Venetians. The island remained under Venetian control even after the rest of Crete was conquered by the Ottomans in 1669, eventually capitulating in 1715. After the independence of Crete, a leper colony was established on the island, in 1903, to isolate people suffering from Hansen's disease from the rest of the population. A cure was discovered in the 1940s and the colony was closed in 1957 when the last 20 patients were moved to an Athens hospital. It has since fallen into disrepair. In the 1930s Epameinondas Remoundakis, a 3rd year Law student, fell ill and was sent to the island, significantly contributing to the improvement of the patients' living conditions. Spinalonga became a prosperous community where people fell in love, got married and raised a family. Daily life in the colony originate...

This bell tower belongs to the 14th-century church dedicated to Saint Catherine, replaced in the 19th century by the current church, standing just beside it. The bell tower was built in the baroque style in the 16th century, when the old church was renovated, losing its gothic features. However, by the 19th century, the old church was too small and constantly flooded, having to be closed down and demolished. How to go: Sainte-Catherine metro station

The Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) started being built in 1882. However, the project had actually been launched in 1874, with a campaign to collect funds for the construction of a temple dedicated to the Holy Family. The first architect of the project was Francisco de Paula del Vilar y Lozano but, due to disagreements with the promoters, he resigned and was replaced by Antonio Gaudi. Gaudi directly supervised the project from 1887 until his death, in 1926. In the 1890s, after receiving a substantial anonymous donation he proposed a new and grander design more monumental and innovative, both regarding the form and the structure as well as the construction. Gaudi's conception of the Sagrada Familia was based on the traditions of Gothic and Byzantine cathedrals; his intention was to express Christian belief through architecture. Each of the 18 towers has a special significance: in the middle is the tower dedicated to Jesus and around this tower are four towers representing the g...

Saint George's Basilica is the oldest church building within Prague Castle. It was founded in 920 by Prince Vratislav and enlarged in 973 with the construction of Saint George's Benedictine Abbey. It was built in the Romanesque style. It had to be rebuilt in 1142 after a fire, and the Baroque facade dates from the 17th century. It is the resting place of several historic figures, such as St. Ludmila, Prince Vratislav and Boleslav II. Opening hours:  Nov-Mar 9 am to 4 pm (12 pm to 4 pm on sun.); Apr-Oct 9 am to 5 pm (12 pm to 5 pm on sun.) Entrance fee:  St. George's Basilica is included in Prague Castle. There are two visiting options: Prague Castle – route A (CZK350, €13.16 April 2017) The Old Royal Palace, a permanent exhibition "The Story of Prague Castle", St. George's Basilica, the Golden Lane, the Powder Tower, St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Adalbert Cathedral, the Rosenberg Palace. Prague Castle – route B  (CZK250, €9.40 April 2017) The Old...