Places mckenziesj Wants to Go

A 14th-century Serbian Orthodox church that was once converted into a mosque under the much-disfavored Ottoman Empire.

This lonely minaret with an unusual decorative symbol is all that remains of a historic Ottoman mosque.

A tragic legacy of the attempt to beautify Skopje and line the pockets of corrupt politicians

This fortress dates back to the 6th century and is also the site of a controversial abandoned restoration project.

A historical puzzle lies at the origins of this structure.

These abundant, over-the-top monuments are so widely scattered that they define the entire compact capital cityscape, often leading to jokes about whether there are more statues than residents.

This historic black and white monastery is one of Bulgaria's architectural jewels.

A flamboyant five-story building in Bulgaria resembles a crawling snail.

"Holy Wisdom" overlooks the city that became its namesake.

This monument honors a true hero dog.

A towering spire in the fortress of Kalemegdan honors the victorious armies of Serbia during their struggles against the Ottoman Empire.

A misnamed well, with a deep dark past.

A NATO bombing took the lives of 16 civilians in 1999—the ruins remain in the center of Belgrade.

Dedicated to a brave pooch who fought a tiger to save a young child.

Bridge that died in war and was resurected.

This cluster of little wooden huts once ground local farmers’ wheat into flour during the days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Celebrated example of Ottoman architecture that also served as a site for brutal massacres.

A war-torn Olympic relic is being overtaken by graffiti and nature.

A small museum built by a family that survived the Siege of Sarajevo.

A number of craters left by fatal mortar strikes have been filled with red resin to remember those lost during the Siege of Sarajevo.

A whimsical bridge adorned with decorative dragons.

Nibble as you learn about Slovenia's longstanding tradition of making beautiful honey cookies.

A trough of 700 strange bronze faces runs through a narrow alley in Ljubljana's old town.

On a small Slovenian island, diners can mix and match a classic cake into dozens of sweet and savory flavor combinations.