STUART SILCOX
PHOTOGRAPHY

The ancient Greeks considered Delphi to be the navel or centre of the world; see image 7 for the purported "Belly Button of the World" from which, if one travelled in a straight line, you would return to this same spot. So the ancient Greeks believed the world was spherical.

During my stay in Athens, I took a day trip by bus north to the town of Kalambaka. From there, I joined a guided tour of the amazing Meteora Monasteries, Greek Orthodox religious retreats perched atop the surrounding mountains. Dramatic scenery and an incredible history. Highly recommend visiting if you are in Greece.

From there, I walked to the Agora, the ancient Greek meeting place in Athens, which features the Temple of Hephaestus. The Orthodox Church on the site is more recent. From there, I walked to the Agora, the ancient Greek meeting place in Athens, which features the Temple of Hephaestus.

On my first full day in Athens, I took the obligatory tour of the Acropolis and its surroundings. It was a cold, windy February day. These images are from the first part of the walk, taking in the Acropolis with its spectacular views of Athens.

Getting out at Monastiraki Metro Station, I found myself in the Greek Capital's tourist hub. Transitioning from a long-haul international flight to this high-energy location was a bit of a challenge. Undeterred, I decided to take some photos with my compact camera, rather than unpack my usual setup.

I took a ferry from the main island to Malta's second-largest island, Gozo. A bus journey from the ferry port up to a high point on Gozo, the main city of Victoria (Ir-Rabat Għawdex).

Formerly a medieval fortress located in central Malta, perched on a hill giving all-round views of the island, is Mdina. Known as the silent city because vehicle access is restricted to locals only.