A charming day trip out of Marrakech is to the seaside town of Essaouira. I found the doorways in the old part of town, fascinating for the colourful blue paint and the carved stone details.

Formerly known as Mogadir, Essaouria has been a port since the time of the Phoenicians, and was one of the major trading centres linking Africa with Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries when it was also known as the Port of Timbuktu.

Topkapi is one of my most intricate design and it came into being in the most marvellous and unexpected way...

A curated list of some of my favourite things to see and do whilst in Sicily, from the festival of St Rosalia to having dinner in the marble piazza of Syracuse.