A geological wonder shrouded in myth.

This controversial statue once honoured a Russian Field Marshall, before ultimately being dismantled in a push to remove symbols of Russian influence.

A bare tree in Riga’s Esplanāde is transformed into an extraordinary vertical neighbourhood by scores of colourful bird nesting boxes clustered across its trunk and branches.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The reconstruction of this prominent building fulfilled a long-written command.

A statue built to honor the elite soldiers who fought for Latvia during World War I.

A quiet grave marks the site of a centuries-old fairytale love story that turned out to be a real murder.

The statue of a legendary giant who carried Christ and shouldered the world's sins.

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

With a design inspired by traditional Latvian textiles, this monument honors the Latvian people who suffered under Soviet occupation.

Oldest Protestant church in the Middle East, designed to resemble a synagogue.

A "miracle" that seems to produce more holy fistfights than holy revelations.

Descend 2,030 years into the past in an ancient tunnel built to support Jerusalem's most famous wall.

This full-sized orange tree lives suspended in mid-air above the streets of Jaffa.

This Soviet statue is based on a piece of propaganda that's been elevated to national myth.

In Kazakhstan, a colorful cathedral with many lives once survived the most powerful earthquake in the region.

A bench and a bridge pay tribute to Birmingham's favorite heavy metal band.

Launch site for nuclear war against Western Europe.

An old hill fort covered in over 100,000 crosses is a symbol of Lithuanian nationalism and beliefs.