Old soul

Stretching across two continents separated by the Bosphorus Strait, this ancient Silk Road city was once the capital of both the Christian Byzantine and Islamic Ottoman empires. Crumbling hammams rub shoulders with striking contemporary buildings, while the call to prayer from Hagia Sophia mosque can be heard from the 15th-century Grand Bazaar, as well as Michelin-starred restaurants. Istanbul is sewn together by a series of storied districts, which results in a varied hotel scene. Relive the Ottoman heyday in a Sultanahmet townhouse; book a boutique stay fuelled by cafes and galleries in Karaköy; or check in among the designer stores of Nişantaşı.

Istanbul, Turkey 1616 – Present

This region in northern Rajasthan was once among the wealthiest in India, thanks to its thriving merchants. Now the battle to save its greatest treasure – the area’s 2,000-plus painted mansions – is finally being won, writes Poonam Binayak

A JOURNEY ACROSS SICILY REVEALS THE ESSENCE OF AN ISLAND SHAPED BY OUTSIDERS, WHERE SUCCESSIVE WAVES OF IMMIGRATION OVER THE CENTURIES HAVE CREATED A UNIQUE CULTURAL IDENTITY

Charles FitzRoy immerses us in the experiences of people who travelled to the city in the 18th century

Musical instruments have power, simply as things. They speak. They generate emotion. They tell stories about life, death, happiness and sadness – and about the past, which they can resurrect with curi