From Rotterdam to Alicante: exploring Europe through a blend of history and the present day

As summer draws to a close, Europe’s cities shift into a different gear. The light softens, the parks take on warm hues and cultural programmes are refreshed, offering a different perspective to those who love to travel at a leisurely pace. There is a common thread linking this season’s destinations: the ability to reinvent their spaces – be they ancient monasteries, old industrial buildings or historic neighbourhoods – to turn them into places where the past and the present meet. From a little Flemish gem on the shores of the Mediterranean, via the capitals of design and publishing, here are five destinations to explore in the coming months.