This arch granting triumphal entrance into Antalya was designed to honor the emperor's visit.

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

This historic hotel preserves many treasures from its heyday hosting passengers on the Orient Express.

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

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.

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

Step back in time and witness the fall of Constantinople.

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

Turkish adventurer antiques in the heart of the Grand Bazaar.

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.

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.

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

One of the world's largest shopping malls covers an area of 15 million square feet—and it's still set to grow.

The largest covered bazaar in the world.

This steamship has been beautifully rusting off the coast of an Iranian island since the 1960s.

The cathedral stands in New Jufa, Isfahan's Armenian quarter that was established in 1606.

Marked by the hand of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

This 17th-century structure is a beautiful testimony to traditional Persian architecture

Long before air conditioning, Persian architects found an ingenious way to cool off.

Named after a legendary garden called Eram in southern Arabia, built by order of Shaddad, an Arab king who wanted to compete with Paradise.

This lake in northwest Iran has started turning from green to red more frequently than scientists are comfortable with.

This ancient burial site is believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world.