Gargoyle head that brings good luck.

Picturesque basketball courts sheltered by historical defensive walls and with an enviable sea view.

This work of art is considered the world's longest mosaic.

Formerly Yugoslavia's "forbidden island," this sleepy little city still holds the abandoned remains of military strongholds.

A deadly ancient portal to the underworld.

A recently-abandoned international exhibition center.

The best-preserved ancient theater in the world.

Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.

The European Union’s tallest freestanding structure provides radio and television broadcasting to half of Latvia.

3,000 market stands in five former Zeppelin hangars.

A preserved oak tree about 3,500 years old found in Riga, Latvia.

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 stone marker and sculpture in the city of Riga stake a claim for the very first community Christmas tree.

This charming Latvian lane doubled as Baker Street on the Soviet Union’s version of Sherlock Holmes.

The oldest housing complex in Riga is a mini timeline of architectural trends.

A black cat protests the City Guild in Riga's Old Town.

A subtle memorial marks where a human chain protested Soviet control in 1989.

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

This wooden recreation of a 9th century lake village looks as though it was built yesterday (which it relatively was).

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 marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.