This controversial monument was designed to lionize the Red Army, but also disheartened the Latvian people.

Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

This celebration of Latvia’s freedom and independence avoided demolition over half a century of Soviet occupation.

With a design inspired by traditional Latvian textiles, this monument honors the Latvian people who suffered under Soviet occupation.

A statue built to honor the elite soldiers who fought for Latvia during World War I.

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

A historical puzzle lies at the origins of this structure.

This fortress dates back to the 6th century and is also the site of a controversial abandoned restoration project.

In the hometown of the Catholic saint and Nobel Peace Prize winner, a memorial dedicated to her legacy.

These abundant, over-the-top monuments are so widely scattered that they define the entire compact capital cityscape, often leading to jokes about whether there are more statues than residents.

A 11-foot former president stands on a Kosovo street that also bears his name.

A futuristic, brutalist masterpiece that is also strangely prison-like.

This massive monument was unveiled the day Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.

A Red Cross memorial museum at the site of the Niš concentration camp that operated for four eventful years during World War II.

This building has two facades of clashing architectural designs.

An homage to the medieval rulers of Bulgaria.

Rebuilt several decades ago, its striking murals prevent it from being reconsecrated as a church.

Sofia's legislative center is continuously reinventing itself.

A vast Communist-era exhibition space in the Bulgarian capital.

This sculpture used famed boxer Joe Louis as the inspiration behind its body.

The preserved arm of a third-century sorcerer is believed to have the power to lift curses and spells.

This once-derelict building is now one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.

This elevator was built in 1907 to connect two neighborhoods separated by a steep, rocky cliff.

The people of Padua pledged to construct this church if the city was spared from destruction during World War I.