This massive glowering Lenin head gazes out over eastern Siberia.

Perhaps the tiniest sculpture in Saint Petersburg is a little bronze finch inspired by a song.

A small and surprising passageway in Saint Petersburg devoted to the Beatles.

A uniquely authentic display of traditional Russian culture.

The world's tallest statue of a woman wields the world's tallest sword and is at risk of toppling over.

This Russian museum stresses the importance of keeping clean and even holds one of Pavlov's dogs.

A scale model of Russia so big visitors are offered binoculars to rent so they can see the whole thing.

Specimens collected by the author of "Lolita" and self-taught lepidopterist are exhibited in his childhood home.

The coldest city in the world.

Once frequented by heavyweights of the Russian arts scene, this café is stuck in the 1800s.

A 250-year-old timepiece-automaton adorned with golden mechanical birds, which still sing to this day.

Thanks to a spelling mistake this bizarre beaver-tiger hybrid became the symbol of a Siberian town.

The oldest museum in Russia is home to a fascinating collection of nearly two million anthropological artifacts and anatomical curiosities.

An 18th century wonder of the world, lost in WWII, re-created at the Catherine Palace.

According to the legend, this structure was built in a single night with the help of the devil.

A dead saint, a deadly poison, and a mysterious holy ooze.

The ruins of the largest gladiatorial school in Rome are largely hidden under modern streets.

This amazingly well-preserved villa just outside Pompeii boasts rare examples of ancient Roman paintings.

The last moments of the ill-fated Pompeiians, frozen forever in plaster.

The walls and streets of the ancient city are peppered with penises.

Ancient snack bar of the Roman Empire re-opened.

This monumental fountain has moved around the city multiple times.

San Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, greets pedestrians between these narrow city streets.

This medieval city gate is now a blend of the past and the modern world.