Heralded as the world's first theater, these ruins are often overlooked as they reside in the shadows of the Acropolis.

This ancient Greek place of assembly and marketplace is being revealed layer by layer below the modern Athens cityscape.

Visit an imposing 13th-century Transylvanian citadel lurking not far from the region's more heavily touristed attractions.

Romania's triumphal arch looks out over Bucharest.

The European towns of Brașov and Râșnov each have proud signs reminiscent of the Hollywood sign.

Something's watching you.

A fire once nearly devoured this gorgeous 14th-century Gothic cathedral.

This communist behemoth is the heaviest building in the world and a legacy of a brutal regime.

A giant portrait of an ancient king looms over the river.

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

This elaborately decorated, fairytale-like Romanian royal palace is one of the most striking castles in Europe.

The possible imprisonment of Vlad the Impaler here earned the medieval castle its nickname, "Dracula's Castle."

This fairy-tale castle would make Dracula (who is said to have been imprisoned there) jealous.

Sofia's legislative center is continuously reinventing itself.

A gigantic statue of a Russian soldier watches over the ancient city of Plovdiv, a prominent reminder of the Soviet period in Bulgaria.

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

This ancient theater, restored in the 20th century, lives on as a venue for dramatic and musical performances.

A striking symbol of the Bulgarian capital.

This historic black and white monastery is one of Bulgaria's architectural jewels.

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.

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

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

A beautiful mountaintop mausoleum devoted to a Montenegrin icon can't seem to make everyone happy.

This exclusive resort has completely covered a tiny Balkan island in a 5-star warren of guest rooms.