Places dbone Wants to Go

A quirky bookstore hidden beneath a sea of whitewashed Greek villas.

This smily stone feline is meant to represent a mythical lion that almost destroyed the island of Kea.

Τhis feline monument commemorates fallen soldiers on a field that saw many, many battles.

The Cycladic architecture makes this Athens neighborhood feel like an island paradise hidden in the shadow of the Acropolis.

This massive subterranean fissure is known as the "underground Grand Canyon."

Foreign invaders almost left this lovely Caucasus palace alone—almost.

In the foothills of the lesser Caucasus, a centuries-old fortress still stands.

Swirling layers of white and red rock earned these mountains their festive nickname.

In oil-rich Azerbaijan, people bathe in the black stuff.

An enormous Soviet aircraft, the only one of its kind, stands at the deserted shore of the Caspian Sea.

This striking icon of the disputed Republic of Artsakh caused a stir at a Eurovision Song Contest.

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

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

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

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

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.

A tiny park in the middle of some big power politics.

A sixth-century Byzantine cistern hidden below a modern carpet store.

A section of the long chain that blocked enemy ships from entering Constantinople.

The legendary luxury train passage is commemorated with a charming museum inside its former eastern terminus.

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

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

Climb a set of vertiginous stone steps to the top of this impressive ancient edifice.