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

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

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

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

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

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

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

Where Stoddart and Connolly suffered in the infamous Bug Pit.

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

Controversially restored in the 1970s, this giant 15th-century mosque is shrouded in legend.

Next to a newer mosque in Khujand’s main square lies the city’s oldest mosque, whose interiors are spectacularly intricate.

A bustling bazaar with an elaborate facade in Central Asia’s underrated capital.

An underground world of gorgeous, palatial metro stations designed as a nuclear shelter complex.

Once a luxurious flagship of the Soviet Union, this Brutalist structure remains a landmark of Tashkent’s communist past.

Looking for a unifying history, Uzbekistan finds its answer in a 14th Century Turco-Mongol conqueror... despite the fact he wasn't Uzbek.

Prowl through this sprawling bazaar under a massive Soviet-era dome for delicious eats.

Keep your eyes out for this "ghost" and walking pun.

This softball diamond has a culture all its own.

Perched atop the highest hill in Cartagena, this 17th-century convent offers spectacular views of the city.

The colonial city's social history is reflected in its fanciful door knockers.