Places Edited by Luke Thomas

The first modernist church in Europe.

These abandoned vessels are destined to be reclaimed by the forest.

This hauntingly beautiful cemetery outside a medieval citadel is full of winding paths and ivy-covered graves.

The oldest arboretum on the Dalmatian coast doubles as the gardens of Kings Landing in "Game of Thrones."

The powerful party began with a secret meeting in this shikumen in 1921.

Eritrea's futuristic gas station is a nod to Italy's fascist history.

The enormous 250-room Vanderbilt mansion conceals hidden doors and secret passageways.

These tenacious 14th-century towers defied demolition and are now a fairytale vacation rental.

An unusual monument to a 19th-century circus star.

The remains of the wrecked steam trawler can be found on the beach at low tide.

Mysterious chains and iron stakes adorn this strange grave, with no explanation.

The colonial city's social history is reflected in its fanciful door knockers.

This now-deactivated naval base defended the Florida coast for centuries.

A bright turquoise river cascades beautifully down stepped terraces in southern China.

Scattered ruins and a tiny cemetery are all that remain of a failed attempt to colonize the inhospitable Desolate Islands.

The medieval-looking hammer beam teak roof may be a Victorian vanity, but it's still absolutely magnificent.

The palace window through which Protestant nobles flung two Catholic regents, thus sparking the Thirty Years' War.

An ancient instrument used to measure the waters of the Nile so Egyptian farmers would know whether to expect famine or flood.

The townhouse where the English poet created some of his most influential work has been preserved in tribute.

The largest manmade caves in Europe now function as a motorbike club's headquarters.

The traditional Polish croissant, folded 81 times into the shape of a horseshoe, is a legally protected cultural treat.

A national collection of Communist-era musical posters.

Final resting place of the immigrant who brought artificial seltzer water to America.

The entire length of the border is marked by a 20-foot-wide slash through the trees.