Marked by the hand of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

This ancient fortress in Iran was once the oldest and largest treasury in the world.

This ancient burial site is believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world.

Ancient structures used to make and preserve ice in the deserts of Persia.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Named after a legendary garden called Eram in southern Arabia, built by order of Shaddad, an Arab king who wanted to compete with Paradise.

A dreamy mausoleum honors Persia's most famous poet.

A spectacular rainbow of stained glass makes the "Pink Mosque" one of the most beautiful in Iran.

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.

A historic trade hub teeming with gorgeous architecture, colorful goods, and vibrant designs.

17th century mosque for Shah Abbas' harem.

These little castles each held thousands of pigeons.

This 17th-century structure is a beautiful testimony to traditional Persian architecture

The cathedral stands in New Jufa, Isfahan's Armenian quarter that was established in 1606.

The fire inside this temple has burned for more than 1,500 years.

Long before air conditioning, Persian architects found an ingenious way to cool off.

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.

This massive monument towers over the city as a constant reminder of the lives lost during Algeria's hard-won war for independence.

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

In one of the world's smallest countries, a royal's personal winery is open to the public.

The oldest surviving wooden bridge over Rhine lets travelers cross easily from Switzerland to Liechtensten.

This non-profit theatre in the heart of Brussels is dedicated to hosting independent films.

A little sculpture with a large wardrobe.

Climb inside an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times its normal size.