This harrowing memorial remembers a murdered investigative journalist.

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.

Have tea in a cemetery with a dazzling view of Istanbul.

The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.

This historic hotel preserves many treasures from its heyday hosting passengers on the Orient Express.

The only Roman honorific column in Istanbul.

Taking the subway here means doing so over a bridge located in the middle of an estuary.

A gorgeous, Gaudí-esque stairway constructed in the city of Istanbul by a prominent Jewish family.

Climb a steep hill in 90 seconds on the second-oldest urban subway in the world.

No one is sure if the world's fourth-largest diamond had been found in a rubbish heap or was pawned by Napoleon's mom.

1513 Turkish world map, full of European state secrets and snarky commentary.

A section of the long chain that blocked enemy ships from entering Constantinople.

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

Five sultans and their families rest in eternal splendor, teeming with overlooked beauty and drama.

Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet, your wish will be granted.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

Stalinist skyscraper built with help of cryotechnology.

Former headquarters of the KGB.

Museum design and public transportation meet in this unique Russian train car.

This building holds the embalmed remains of the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution.

A close look reveals that the Scottish monument is just slightly off-kilter.

Now famous as the "Harry Potter bridge," this impressive concrete viaduct has long been an icon in its own right.

The final resting place of soldiers' loyal canine companions.