The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.

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

Turkish adventurer antiques in the heart of the Grand Bazaar.

The legendary luxury train passage is commemorated with a charming museum inside its former eastern terminus.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

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

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

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

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

Ancient serpentine sacrifice holder that has stood the test of time.

One of several skulls claiming to belong to the beheaded St. John the Baptist is on display at this Roman church.

A deep mark on the remains of a Roman temple, believed to be left by a legendary warrior.

The Pope’s secret escape route.

Jesus' footprints and the first catacombs in the world.

Also known as the Square Colosseum, this building is a prime example of fascist-era rationalist architecture.

This historic recreationist school churns out warriors that may very well have had a fighting chance in Rome's pits of the day.

2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.

Every day is like Christmas on this street where the traditional Neapolitan nativity scene comes to life.

Well-preserved, still-functional sliding wood doors from Ancient Rome can be found in this Vesuvius-stricken house.

Before it was buried by volcanic ash, this fast-food restaurant fed the hungry hordes of ancient Rome.

This amazingly well-preserved villa just outside Pompeii boasts rare examples of ancient Roman paintings.

Buried next to Pompeii, this lesser-known Roman villa was the opulent vacation home of Emperor Nero's wife.

Locals pay their respects at a shrine to soccer player Diego Maradona—which claims to contain a real lock of his hair.

This 17th-century passageway is home to numerous bookshops, a witch legend, and the oldest pizzeria in the world.