In the foothills of the lesser Caucasus, a centuries-old fortress still stands.

Home to nearly a third of the world's mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan is home to a messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive landscape.

A massive collection of petroglyphs dating back some 40,000 years.

Mysterious hillside with a continuously burning natural fire.

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

The building's fluid, wavelike walls are a true feat of architectural ingenuity.

Swirling layers of white and red rock earned these mountains their festive nickname.

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

A unique museum dedicated to culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

What might be the largest completely Jewish town in the world outside of Israel now faces dwindling numbers and empty streets.

Europe's second largest ossuary wasn't discovered until 2001.

A cheeky architectural easter egg.

A peculiar clock commemorates a historic victory won by ringing the noonday bell an hour early.

This hanging crocodile is thought to be the "dragon" that once plagued a Czech city.

This strange statue depicts a young boy's body with an adult Mozart's head and a single wing.

A former top secret nuclear fallout shelter now operates like a hotel stuck in the Cold War.

One of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters is still used today, but for less brutal events.

This Roman monument is surrounded by more recent construction, offering a stark contrast between ancient architecture and the modern urban landscape.

The Adriatic's most famous wind can be reliably experienced in the city's Marina.

A gigantic collection of teeny, tiny books.

Unusual building appears to be haphazardly built from randomly piled bricks.

Hidden up a dusty track off the Georgian Military Road is this fascinating waterfall with mountainous views.

This architecturally eclectic fortress witnessed centuries of bloody turmoil, including the massacre of its ruling clan.

A cylinder monument with a spectacular vista commemorates a friendship that some say never existed.