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Wandering around Rabat, trying to get to the waterfront, we stumbled upon this cemetery which turned out to be enormous and mysterious, with tombstones literally stacked upon one another and tumbling all the way down to the sea. Tens of thousands of beautifully engraved tombstones. I’d never seen anything like it before.

This picture of a young girl walking down a street perfectly captured the laidback atmosphere within the walls of the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat. More than any other city or village we visited in Morocco, the Kasbah of Udayas was not touristy and hectic. We spent an entire afternoon exploring the narrow streets, all painted blue and white, and mingled with the locals.

Situated not far from Meknes, between Fes and Rabat, the Roman ruins of Volubilis stand as a testament to a culture that changed the world forever. In the fertile area that the ruined city is located, it’s difficult to remember you’re in Morocco. There’s a lushness that’s not visible everywhere else in the country. Long blades of green grass sway in the gentle breeze, the sun makes the white stone seem bleached and an olive grove along the road you hike from car park to temple, seems to transport you to faraway Italy. Volubilis is a UNESCO World Heritage site and as such is being reconstructed and preserved for future generations. For good reason. The site has an outstanding collection of mosaic floors that rival any collection I’ve seen anywhere in the world outside Rome itself and they’re still being restored which shows the collection will be even more impressive in future years. The Appian Way also runs through the ruins and it’s surreal to walk along the paving stones of a road that was begun in 312 BC. It’s worth any extra money you might incur to hire one of the guides that wait near the entrance to the complex. They’re worth their weight in gold if history interests you. Visit when the sun is not directly overhead for the best photographs and bring extra layers of clothing because the gentle breeze can quickly turn into a strong wind as the ruins are at a higher elevation that the surrounding land.

We kicked off our Marrakesh holiday with a visit to Maison MK’s Gastro MK restaurant for its five-course tasting menu. The riad‘s Moroccan chef cooks up a delicious, visually stunning Moroccan-French fusion menu whose highlights included fried quail eggs perched atop an almond and chicken pastilla, and an exquisite asparagus and tomato tart. Dinner begins with canapés on Maison MK’s rooftop terrace and moves downstairs for meal service. Feel free to take your mint tea or coffee up to the terrace to end your evening and enjoy nighttime views of the Koutobia Minaret. Reservations are a must, as there is a single dinner seating and space is limited for those not staying at the riad.

These are the oldest and the most impressive of the megalithic temples in the Maltese islands. Built during the Neolithic period, the ruins are more than 5,500 years old, predating Stonehenge and even the pyramids of Egypt. It is the coralline limestone used to build the temples that has allowed them to endure for thousands of years. Recently restored, the site is visitor-friendly with walkways and a new center with displays of prehistoric artifacts from across Gozo.

This ornate church, known in Maltese as the Basilica San Ġorġ, stands atop the hill at the heart of Victoria, Gozo’s largest town. In the glittering golden interior, you’ll find a fully functional Baroque organ and an intriguing Byzantine-style chapel. As the church holds Mass every morning and evening, the best time for a sightseeing visit is at lunchtime or in the afternoon. Surrounding the church, Victoria’s narrow alleyways are also worth a stroll to soak up more of the island’s historic architecture.

Held over eight days at the end of May in Morocco’s cultural capital of Rabat, Mawazine, which is also known as “Rhythms of the World,” was started in 2001 as part of a government initiative to promote a more liberal image of Morocco. It has since grown into a big name event, attracting an international crowd of revelers that includes celebrities. The event draws an eclectic global line-up, featuring not only big international names like Rihanna and Stevie Wonder, but also popular pan-Arab and Moroccan artists (ever heard of Berber fusion rock?). Beyond the music, the festival is also a stage for artists to exhibit their work in individual and collective shows, street performances, and workshops. What’s particularly unique about this festival is the location in the UNESCO World Heritage designated city of Rabat. During the event, the entire city essentially becomes a giant open-air music venue with the stages set up across the town. Most events are also free, making them accessible to the local population.