Alternative wonders: why Egypt’s Colossi of Memnon are my giants of history
Emerging from the heat shimmer, these two enormous statues in Luxor appear completely otherwordly – like giants in a wheat field
Alternative wonders: why Tibet’s Samye monastery is my spiritual inspiration
The region’s first Buddhist monastery is a complex of chapels and stupa towers from a vast mandala – a symbolic and spiritual representation of the whole universe
A sprawling megacity of multi-level madness: why Chongqing in China is my wonder of the world
This megacity is like Hong Kong on steroids – a vertically sprawling, astonishing urban phenomenon that can only be understood in three dimensions
Dancing horses and a dodgy Venus: why Derbyshire’s Bolsover Castle is my wonder of the world
This is a very English wonder, fusing the arcane symbolism of northern England with then modern ideas from Renaissance Italy
From a feisty goddess to stone phalluses: why Turkey’s Temple of Artemis is my wonder of the world
The temple was an inspiration for countless Greek and Roman temples that followed and is twice the size of the Parthenon
A love letter to Patmos: the most serene of all the Greek islands
Saint John lived in a cave here and wrote about the Apocalypse, but these days the quiet shores of beautiful Patmos nurture happier thoughts
Pottering in the Potteries: exploring the museums and ceramics studios of Stoke-on-Trent
As a new series of The Great Pottery Throwdown hits the screens, an honorary Stokie explores Josiah Wedgwood’s legacy and the six towns – and gets some clay on her hands
My Christmas pilgrimage to Mark Rothko’s Latvia
I took the scenic route to Daugavpils, birthplace of the abstract artist – a world of breathtaking colour, kindness and cold
10 places to see in the winter solstice in the UK and Ireland (that aren’t Stonehenge)
The longest night/shortest day is celebrated at the famous prehistoric site, but there are many other atmospheric locations to welcome the returning of the light on 21 December
The magic of winter in West Cork, where music, food and drink lift the spirits
Ireland’s southernmost tip has been reinvigorated by new vibrant venues, markets and restaurants, which has brought an energy that brightens even the darker months
Is the party over for Belgrade’s club scene on the Danube?
Raft houses, known as ‘splavs’, became synonymous with the hedonistic nightclub scene in Serbia’s capital. Now they are being cleared from the river to make way for luxury flats, bars and shops
‘I’m here for the ghosts’: an after-dark walk through Istanbul in search of its soul
The author of the Istanbul-set Inspector Ikmen novels takes a trip into the Old City’s thrilling and turbulent past
‘Joyce and Hemingway loved lingering here. I can see why’: readers’ favourite small cities in Europe
Art nouveau cafes, Ottoman architecture and beer halls make these modest cities a big draw away from the crowds
My rail journey to Naples and Pompeii to chase the last rays of sun
A trip from the UK in search of late-season sun leads to fresh discoveries in Pompeii as well bonus trips to Procida and Paestum
Exploring the Silk Roads: 10 stunning sites in 10 countries from Turkey to China
There are extraordinary places to see and adventures to be had along the strands of the ancient Asian trade route