Places Edited by Nikki Vargas

One of the largest single-span stone-arch bridges in the Balkans looks like something straight out of a fairytale.

The monument honors the first (and for a long time, only) African-born philosopher to teach at a German university.

This three-mile concrete levee in Pueblo, Colorado was transformed into the world’s longest painting.

This iconic pavilion in Barquisimeto has a roof made from 16 “petals” that open and close depending on the weather.

Monkeys inhabit the lush forest surrounding ancient Mayan ruins once considered sacred.

The first and only American institution dedicated to the enduring value of comedy in the United States.

The 3,600-year-old archeological sensation is considered to be the oldest representation of the cosmos.

A curiosity-seeker's paradise set inside a three-story historic school house.

A series of playful yellow penguins share a serious message about the environment.

This glacier interpretation center houses the world’s only bar made completely from glacial ice.

This little gem in the Gulf of Riga has a very rich heritage and distinct culture.

The first and only museum dedicated to stained glass and horology opened outside of Chicago in 2017.

The oldest continuously-operating tavern in Wisconsin used a clever loophole to serve alcohol during Prohibition.

Ecuador’s historic seat of government has been quietly looted in recent decades, and no one knows how or by whom.

This quirky local sculpture is quite literally a fish out of water.

Built on the remains of one the Incas’ most important gathering spots, this square keeps the spirit of a fallen empire alive.

The first Catholic Mission to the Bemba people of Zambia still stands.

This old-fashioned roadhouse's quirky neon sign is as famous as its enormous dumplings.

This fireplace-turned-monument pays tribute to the assassinated U.S. president.

Once the tallest building in Detroit, this Gothic church houses some of the oldest stained-glass windows in the country.

Incredible rock formations jut from the southern end of this spectacular stingray-viewing spot.

A short volcanic hill in Quito doubles as a stellar observation point of an iconic statue.

A once popular resort—said to be the vacation spot of gangster Al Capone—now remains abandoned in the woods of Arizona.

Dating back to the 1800s, two imposing buildings in Michigan have had countless transformations over the years.