This edition matters!
The responses come from Miriam Scerra — a Sicilian-Moroccan Londoner with an instinctive eye for style and a point of view that feels unmistakably her own. She is the founder of her own brand, Almasira – a curated fashion brand showcasing timeless pieces that reflect her deep-rooted heritage. Miriam’s travel reveals as much as her wardrobe. The cities she moves through, the pace she keeps, the details she notices — all of it informs the precision of her taste.

Before Almasira enters the world in full, consider this a glimpse into the references shaping it.

Best city or country you’ve ever travelled to and why?
Italy, without hesitation. I grew up there, so it shaped my taste, values, and standards from a young age- from food and craftsmanship to how life should feel day to day. I moved to the UK at 19 mainly for my career and opportunities, but Italy is where my sense of quality, beauty, and culture comes from. It’s the foundation of who I am, not just a place I’ve visited.

Worst city or country you’ve visited, and why didn’t it work for you?
Barcelona. The energy felt fragmented and invasive. Too loud, too chaotic, too much! I’m sensitive to environments and energy, and Barcelona drained me quickly, it felt like a city constantly taking rather than giving.

Where in the world did you feel the freest?
Mykonos is freedom. No expectations, no weight, just sun, movement, and pleasure. It’s not a place for depth but for release, and sometimes that’s exactly what freedom looks like.

Best party city or country you’ve experienced?
Saint-Tropez. Effortless glamour. Everything there feels intentional, selective, elegant. It’s all about atmosphere, beauty, and knowing exactly where you belong in the room.

City or country with the best food overall?
Italy. Every region has its own cuisine, traditions, ingredients, and way of cooking, food changes completely from north to south. It’s not one cuisine, it’s many. Italian food culture has been officially recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. That is for a reason.

City or country with the best market/street food?
Palermo. The street food is amazing there. Markets are chaotic but authentic, and the food actually reflects the city’s history and culture, not something made only for tourists.

A city or country that surprised you the most?
Madrid. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. Great energy, very liveable, social, good food, and not pretentious.

The most beautiful place you’ve ever seen.
Sicily. The mix of sea, history, nature, and raw landscapes is hard to beat.

The most overrated destination you’ve been to.
Palma de Mallorca. Boring. Didn’t offer much beyond surface-level beauty.

The most underrated destination you’ve visited.
Rabat. Clean, calm, structured, and refined. Very overlooked compared to other Moroccan cities.

Which city or country has the friendliest people?
Morocco. People are naturally welcoming and generous. Hospitality feels genuine.

Which city or country has the unfriendliest people?
Amsterdam. Cold and closed-off. The energy didn’t sit well with me at all.

Which city or country felt the safest for you?
Dubai. Very safe, organised, and controlled. Easy to move around without stress.

A destination that pushed you out of your comfort zone in a good way.
Saint-Tropez. I went there alone. Being solo in a place that’s very social forced me to be confident, independent, and comfortable in my own company. It showed me I can move through environments on my own terms without relying on anyone else.

Where did you experience the strongest sense of culture or identity?
Sicily & Morocco. Strong traditions, family values, and a very clear sense of identity. Very proud that these are also my roots.

A city or country with the chicest and most stylish people?
New York. Everyone there has taste.

Which trip taught you something about yourself?
London. Moving to London at 19 taught me independence and resilience. It showed me that if you’re willing to leave your comfort zone and start from zero, anything and everything is possible. Hence why it became a 7-year long trip.

A hotel or Airbnb that felt genuinely special?
Traditional riads in Morocco. Private, quiet, they feel like a retreat from the city.

What’s the next city or country at the top of your list, and what’s pulling you there?
Japan. The unique culture, food, discipline, structure. It is all so fascinating.

Follow Miriam Scerra IG: @miriamscerra