An ancient Empire, golden deserts, a mystical religion, noble mountains and wonderful people – Iran takes the best of every civilisation which has ever called this land home to produce a nation of immeasurable beauty and fascinating culture.

Atlanta, in the state of Georgia in America’s south, is at the heart of the American civil rights movement that secured all-important rights for non-white Americans, ending the Jim Crow era of discrimination and paving the way for equality.

The great Silk Road trading route from Eastern China to the Mediterranean winded its way through the deserts of Uzbekistan, leading to the building of sprawling trading cities, rich and opulent.

Holidays to Europe by train are becoming increasingly popular, here we look at European cities still alive with history.