Historic fortifications form the boundary of Vatican City, but it’s not entirely surrounded by walls.

A dismembered holy head stares out from her beautiful reliquary at the St. Dominic Basilica.

First founded in 1472, this is the oldest bank in the world. Its history may explain why we call financial institutions "banks."

Renaissance hospital featuring a rotating door into which unwanted babies were dropped.

This strange bovine gargoyle is said to have been put in as a passive aggressive form of revenge.

This famous archeological mystery may be an ancient example of movable type.

This beautifully restored fortification kept the city safe for centuries.

Groups of prehistoric tombs that dot the mountains of northern Oman.

On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.

A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."

Billed as the "largest natural flower garden in the world" this Middle Eastern show field has little competition at 45 million flowers.

An abandoned desert hamlet swallowed up by sand.

One of the largest sand dunes in the world is nicknamed the "Scary Mountain" due to its steep slope and sharp incline.

This enormous sports car themed amusement park is home to the world’s fastest roller coaster.

The world’s largest LED display, built over an F1 race circuit.

Planned as the world’s first zero-carbon city, it had lofty ideals—but is only 5 percent completed and aiming for 50 percent carbon-neutral.

The largest falcon hospital in the world, caring for over 6,000 feathered patients every year.

These otherworldly formations were shaped over millions of years by the forces of nature.

The opulent car collection of an eccentric Sheikh housed in his own private pyramid.

Whitewashed mosque contains the world's largest carpet.

No building in the world leans as far as the so-called “Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi.”

This massive piece of artwork weighs more than 250 tons, and was designed as a tribute to the first president of the United Arab Emirates.