For two decades in the 13th century, the papacy operated from this palace in central Italy, which served as the site of the first—and longest—papal election conclave in history.

When this 400-year-old fountain fell into disrepair, officials covered the mess up with what looks like a giant soup tureen.

This palace offers an 18th-century European take on Chinese design and architecture.

This color-changing crater lake in El Salvador is occasionally impenetrable to sunlight.

These rugged, color-stained mountains hold the secrets of the Kazakh desert.

20-foot tall lamp mumbles Swedish to celebrate the holidays.

This endearingly discomfited urinating statue commemorates the sneaky pees had by us all.

César Baldaccini's iconic sculpture of a 40-foot thumb stands tall in La Défense.

The unique design of these skyscrapers in a Paris suburb led to them being nicknamed "cloud towers."

This island castle now hosts a world-famous opera festival.

The earliest pagoda built in the beautiful Panmen Scenic Area of Suzhou.

Stone shrouds of Prince Liu Sheng and Princess Dou Wan of the Han Dynasty, created to preserve their flesh for eternity.

Three floors above a 2,000-year-old royal tomb is a rare collection of ancient porcelain pillows.

A prestigious learning institute of old Shanghai.

An out-of-place slice of France, smack in the middle of Shanghai.

First established in 741, this is one of the oldest Taoist temples in China.

The embalmed remains of the communist leader lie within a custom crystal coffin.

An ancient Chinese temple where even the emperor dressed like a farmer in the name of the harvest.

Ming Dynasty necropolis raided during the Cultural Revolution.

These ruins once flourished as the capital of the Lydian kingdom, often credited with the invention of metal coinage.

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

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

This ancient monastery complex was transformed from an island to a peninsula when the lake was partially drained.

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