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From the Swiss Alps to the Brazilian rain forest, these Airbnbs are worth booking just for the views.

Let your tastebuds—and experts—guide you on these mouthwatering culinary tours throughout the globe.

Even when we travel, stepping outside of our daily lives and being more present is easier said than done. But with these guided adventures designed to connect you with the here and now in Italy, Morocco, and Peru, savoring the moment is more accessible than ever.

You might not think of Tuscany for island-hopping and horseback-riding, but Italy’s most beloved region has a lot more to offer—plus new hotels to help you enjoy it all.

Yes, some new hotels did open in 2020. Be inspired by these beautiful new properties in Botswana, Switzerland, California, Japan, and more.

Wander the streets of Assisi after visiting the primary sights and grab an Italian pastry or gelato. Many bakeries near the main sights so take a break and enjoy some sugary goodness!

The Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi is the Catholic mother church of the Franciscan Order and is an important Christian pilgrimage site. Partially destroyed in the 1997 earthquake the restoration is complete. After visiting the Giotto and Cimabue frescoes, admiring the upper and lower basilicas and the abundance of artworks head down to the lower crypt. Here is where Saint Francis is buried. There is also an area where pilgrims can leave photos of their deceased relatives. It is a touching and simple place for tributes and memories. Pilgrims from all over the world come here to leave a photo and say a small blessing in this special place.

The oldest Gothic church in Dalmatia dates back to 1359—and its monastery is even older. Built around 1221, the monastery was home to a Franciscan school and a precursor to the University of Zadar. Although the interior of the church is relatively unadorned, it’s worth checking out for the 12th-century painted wooden cross and 16th-century painting of the dead Christ by Jacopo Bassano. Also be sure to tour the treasury, which is full of rare and historic objects. There’s a small entrance fee to enter the complex, but the early Gothic carvings (done in the so-called Floral Gothic style) and the serene atmosphere are worth the price of admission.

Completed in 1899, this Byzantine and Romanesque-style church is a popular destination as a place for pilgrimage and worship for thousands of visitors to D.C. Run by the Order of St. Francis of Assisi (Franciscans), the monastery and its magnificent gardens house realistic replicas of shrines from the Holy Land and worldwide, which the Franciscans have cared for during the past 800 years. These include Christ’s tomb from the Church of the Holy Sepuchre, Tomb of the Virgin Mary, Chapel of the Ascension, the Grotto of Gethsemane, the Grotto of Lourdes, and the catacombs of Rome which house the remains of two saints brought from there, St. Benignus and St. Innocent.

I was in the Ribeira district of Oporto. I wanted to see the Gothic and Baroque Church of Sao Francisco. So I wandered into the church that was listed as one of the most important and beautiful churches of Oporto. It was said to be very ornate. I was mesmerized by the beauty of this huge edifice with the elaborately decorated interior said to have more than 300 kilos of gold dust covering altars and other decorative surfaces. I stood there and tried to think of the work involved in completing this church. It must have been a huge undertaking ( as were so many of the monuments the world over). The church was built originally as a small building in 1245 by the Franciscan friars in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. In 1383, a much larger church was built.It was finished about 1425. The structure is a basic Gothic church with the large rose window. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Baroque architecture was added. The Franciscan friars were buried in the catacombs which you can visit. There is also an ossuary with thousands of human bones. The interior is very large and you need at least an hour to peruse this monument. This is an attraction that you should not miss while in Oporto.

A ferry brings travelers to this island, populated with more olive trees than people. The small downtown is a mixture of over-touristed and sweet. The charm of this island comes from its history. This is where St. Francis lived as a hermit in the 1200s. I felt his spirit here more deeply than in the great cathedral in Assisi, that really has very little to do with St. Francis’s message of simplicity and the universal presence of the divine. From Isola Maggiore you can look across the water to the town of Tuoro, the scene of Hannibal’s bloody defeat of the Romans. Across the water in the other direction lies Passigiano (where you can catch the ferry). In World War II, residents of Passigiano fled to Isola Maggiore to escape the Nazi army. This little island has been witness to tragedy, prayer, quiet, and solitude. Break away from the roaming tourists and find a seat. It’s a great place to do a little reflecting of your own.

Take cooking classes in Umbria, explore a medieval fortress in Spigeto, visit Rome, and more on this food-and-culture filled Italy travel itinerary.

Visit this shop to find a special souvenir that will make you feel as if you’re taking a little piece of Palermo history home. At Cittacotte, on Via Vittorio Emanuele near the Chiesa di San Francesco d’Assisi, architect Vincenzo Vizzari hand-crafts miniature terra-cotta reproductions of Palermo’s ornate houses, palaces and churches, using a painstaking plaster-casting process.

On this week’s episode of Travel Tales by AFAR: He’s a Croatian Irish radio guy who’s traveled the world. But in all his wanders, he’d never really given his Irish side a chance—until now.