Sharjah, named the cultural capital of the Arab world, is a city where heritage refuses to stay behind glass. It moves through its streets, slips through its souqs, and settles into the qahwa offered before you’ve thought to ask.

Every city has a version of itself that doesn’t make the highlight reel. In Dubai, that version is shaped by art, culture, and a heritage far older than its highrises.

Kokand, the cultural heart of the Fergana Valley, breathes centuries of traditions through its palace, mosques, and monuments.

With over 2,500 years of history, Bukhara feels suspended in time — a place where the memory of the Silk Road still lingers, inviting you to wander through this crossroads of ancient worlds, a city whose very name carries the meaning of “God’s Joy.”

The final part of the Wanderer’s Guide to Expo 2025 Osaka brings us to Europe — our last stop.

Our journey continues westward to the Arabian Gulf, where desert kingdoms and coastal medinas whisper the legacy of a civilisation that is long overshadowed, yet integral to the making of the modern world.

At Expo 2025 in Osaka, wanderers are invited on a global journey of culture, creativity, and connection — no passport needed. Our first stop: Asia.

Beyond the well-told tales of Arab-Norman influence lies another Palermo — one where the dialogue between past and present plays out in puppet theatres, tiled staircases, and palaces.

What if the soul of Palermo lies not just in its cathedrals or cannoli, but in the traces of an Arab past that still breathe into the city’s pulse?

Tucked away on the outskirts of Palermo, Palazzina Cinese brings Chinoiserie to life, offering a glimpse into the Sicilian fascination with the Far East.