Taking the subway here means doing so over a bridge located in the middle of an estuary.

A surprising and unconventional mosque hidden in the subsoil of Istanbul.

This former Imperial summer home was the venue for a royal slap that once echoed 'round the world.

The eclectic home of a leading Turkish architect is a gorgeous piece of eye candy.

This column celebrates Rome's victory over the Goths, and may be the oldest Roman monument in Istanbul.

Ancient serpentine sacrifice holder that has stood the test of time.

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.

Climb a steep hill in 90 seconds on the second-oldest urban subway in the world.

The most metal church of all time was built in record time because of an international, pious pissing contest.

A gorgeous, Gaudí-esque stairway constructed in the city of Istanbul by a prominent Jewish family.

Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet, your wish will be granted.

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

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

An abandoned mountain village in Habib surrounded by walnut, apricot, and pomegranate trees.

If you dare visit this fort, fire-breathing hyenas might devour your camels.

Where artisans use centuries-old techniques to build traditional Arabian ships.

This beautifully restored fortification kept the city safe for centuries.

Nature's water park in the Wadi Bani Awf valley is full of pools flanked with cliffs and natural water slides.

This bazaar is one of the oldest in the Arabian world.

An imposing Omani fortress surrounded by date palm trees.

A sinkhole and now a swimming hole, too, full of dazzling turquoise water.

Lebanese castle built by one man, over a lifetime.

A patchwork of ruins from various civilizations in one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities.

This modernist cinema has survived war and reconstruction to become a symbol of Lebanon’s revolutionary spirit.