Despite a fraught and controversial history this African island holds a powerful monument to the tragedy of the slave trade.

This Tang Dynasty behemoth is the biggest Buddha in the world.

This museum in the famously blue neighborhood of Sidi Bou Saïd showcases a traditional Tunisian lifestyle.

Colloquially known as “piss alley,” this narrow street filled with tiny bars and barbecue stands looks like it was pulled straight out of “Blade Runner.”

Japan’s tallest Godzilla statue contains a piece of the original 1954 film within its base.

Here lies Hattori Hanzō, a samurai who is remembered as a legendary ninja in today’s popular culture.

The ancient heart of Tunis is an enormous maze of narrow streets and alleyways.

This unique religious structure is an architectural gem with arresting ocean views.

This giant statue is the product of a mixture of corruption, Stalinist architecture, and North Korean manpower.

An open-air museum exhibiting a total of 52 century-old buildings, recreating Hokkaido’s “pioneer village.”

This deceptively salty lake looks like blushing pink lemonade.

This tiny, tranquil Senegalese island serves as a powerful symbol of the Atlantic slave trade.

An awe-inspiring mosque in Morocco with one of the tallest minarets in the world.

This Buddhist temple is home to the graves of the Japanese national legends, the 47 Ronin.

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

"Unity, Creativity, Beauty."

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

A collection of art from Bulgaria's time as a communist state.

A vast Communist-era exhibition space in the Bulgarian capital.

An interactive museum-like experience takes visitors back to 1980s Communist Bulgaria.

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

A striking symbol of the Bulgarian capital.

Sofia's legislative center is continuously reinventing itself.

Underneath this Byzantinian church lies a necropolis filled with ancient tombs and the ruins of previous churches.