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

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

The ancient heart of Tunis is an enormous maze of narrow streets and alleyways.

Despite the name, this unusual palace in rural Tunisia never belonged to an Italian dictator.

This gem of Moorish architecture is slowly disintegrating along the coast of this charming town.

The last stop in southeast Russia.

Russia's own leaning tower was built on a tragic historical fable.

The largest and best-preserved Roman amphitheater in Africa was designed to seat 35,000 people.

A modern tower, symbolizing the legend of a golden egg on top of the tree of life.

A seemingly simple canyon that was the backdrop to a number of famous movies.

Geothermal resources are cooled in this oddly-shaped structure before being used for irrigation

The largest salt lake in the Sahara is mysteriously alluring.

An abandoned film set location for a remote spaceport in a galaxy far, far away hides in the Tunisian desert.

Buildings from the fictional planet of Tatooine still litter the Tunisian desert.

The original movie set for the home of 'Star Wars' hero Luke Skywalker.

A charming Amazigh village carved into a mountaintop.

The original film set of Luke Skywalker's Tatooine home from the 'Star Wars' trilogy.

Made famous by 'Star Wars,' these troglodyte homes face an uncertain future.

A 15th-century granary that played the role of futuristic slave quarters in the world of 'Star Wars.'

Founded in 670, this ancient mosque is an architectural time portal.

A superb Paleo-Christian baptismal pool is preserved among the ruins of ancient Sufetula.

This grand hydraulic installation has provided water for townspeople since the Middle Ages.

The best-preserved Roman small town in North Africa.

The northernmost point of continental Africa—or is it?