Gladiators battle and chariots race daily in the ruins of a once-great Roman city.

The most gigantic, swoony, intimidating trio of fingers in all of antiquity.

A more chill but no less fascinating version of the famous ancient archeological site.

Mysterious lost empire of the Silk Road.

Ruins of the Crusaders' headquarters.

The ancient latrines of the Greeks, in all their public glory.

Large miniature theme park with 100-plus models.

Over the centuries, this island paradise has done it all, from providing monks with ecclesiastical respite to sheltering an exiled Leon Trotsky.

The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.

Five sultans and their families rest in eternal splendor, teeming with overlooked beauty and drama.

A meow-velous tribute to a beloved street cat, made famous on the internet.

Roman ruins, natural methane fires and a lovely beach.

A Turkish monastery tucked into a cliff wall.

Hidden just under the waters around this Turkish island are the ruins of a once great city.

This famous city eluded concrete detection until the early 2000's.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Roman ruins top white travertine terraces formed by ancient hot springs.

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.

A museum glorifying the life of Stalin, located in the city of his birth.

The secret room where early Bolsheviks cranked out propaganda fliers on a smuggled printing press.

A cylinder monument with a spectacular vista commemorates a friendship that some say never existed.

A literally moving statue of stacked metal giants just continually trying (and failing) to find love.

The first skyscraper to include a Ferris wheel built into the facade.

These Stalin-era industrial 'death traps' hang lifeless above the city