Author Profile: Jamie Firby

Swanage is located on a peninsula along the Jurassic Coast, called the Isle of Purbeck. Around the island, you’ll notice that many buildings have a similar feel – a dark grey stone. This is the local limestone, Purbeck Stone, which has been used as a building material in the area for...   view more

Cádiz lays claim to being the oldest city still standing in Europe. That’s quite something. Over the centuries (and millenia), this beautiful coastal Andalucían city has played a vital role in many different civilisations. It has more than its fair share of interesting...   view more

Gibraltar is only a few square miles, but it packs in an astonishing architectural variety. Winding through its old town is like flipping through the pages of its history. A Moorish castle, Andalusian townhouses, British Barracks – a walk around Gibraltar’s centre is the best way to discover its unique architectural heritage, a place where civilisations have collided, each leaving their mark on the...   view more

Nestled away in Córdoba’s historic centre, just a short walk from the famous Mosque-Cathedral, is one of Europe’s best preserved Jewish...   view more

Frequently voted as the best place to live in the country, filled with a vibrant cultural scene, a buzzing harbour-side and plenty of green space – and not to mention only being a short train journey from London – Bristol well worth a visit. Here’s my guide of the top things to do and see in possibly England’s coolest...   view more

Legendary street artist Banksy started in Bristol. You can still find several of their early works on the city’s walls and in its museums. Seeking out Banksy’s murals was definitely one of our highlights on a trip to...   view more

Bologna is one of the most underrated cities in Italy. It offers a rich range of things to do, reflected in its many nicknames – la rossa (the red one – both in politics and, well, literally); la dotta (the learned – home of the western world’s oldest university and plenty of museums); la grossa (the fat one, for its unmatched cuisine) and la torre (for its many, many towers). It’s a unique, fascinating city which, compared to many towns in Italy, goes under the radar. Here are the...   view more

It’s only a small city – but Parma really packs a lot in. Laid back and elegant, famous for its food and rich history and culture, it’s one of the best cities in the region to visit. Here’s my guide to Parma, including the top things to...   view more

Naples has so much to offer. You could spend weeks in the city, and there’d still be more to do. Few places have such a varied, rich history that is present all around you. But many of Naples’ most interesting landmarks go under the radar. Here are seven hidden gems and more unusual sights in...   view more

Naples was our surprise highlight of our trip to Italy. The city offers a rich blend of history and culture – classic and modern – and an astounding range of things to do. As the birthplace of pizza its food is a delight, and hidden among its lively streets are world-class museums, historic landmarks and excellent views across the Bay of Naples. It’s also an excellent gateway to the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and...   view more

Rye is one of the most complete medieval towns in England. The whole place is a conservation area, still built on its medieval street pattern. You can feel the past everywhere you look – which means, for history geeks like me, it’s an absolute...   view more

Mudéjar is a beautiful architectural style, unique to Spain, that fuses together Islamic and Christian styles. It can be found across Spain – but one of the best cities to see it is in Seville. In this piece, I explore Seville’s Mudéjar heritage, and outline the best places to see the style in the...   view more

Zaragoza might be Spain’s fifth biggest cities, but it steel feels like a well-kept secret. While Barcelona and Madrid pull in the crowds, this historic gem on the banks of the River Ebro sees far fewer...   view more

Sheffield is a fascinating city which, in my opinion, doesn’t get the credit it deserves and often goes under the radar compared to some of the UK’s other large cities. As an important industrial city, the Steel City is home to many impressive landmarks – and when I first visited Sheffield almost a decade ago, it was many of the places outlined in this blog that made me fall in love with it. I went on to live in the city for five years – but Sheffield’s most beautiful buildings and...   view more