No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics.

A wunderkammer of gold and silver reliquaries and ancient saintly bones.

An ancient knight and a symbol of the city's freedom.

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

Ancient serpentine sacrifice holder that has stood the test of time.

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

This peaceful, round shrine in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle acts as a beacon of peace.

This elaborate temple was built around one of the Buddha's teeth.

An ancient stone fortress considered by many to be the eighth wonder of the world.

The Habsburgs' royal collections of art and wonders.

The topiary maze at the Habsburg hunting lodge.

Daily jousts and dancing barrel makers in Munich's mechanical clock.

Go surfing on this urban wave, "hacked" by local surfers.

Macabre astrological automaton clock dating to the late 1400s.

Despite attempts by local police to discourage it, Beatles-inspired graffiti has been a means for artists to air grievances for decades.

A 400-year-old mummified arm dangles from the ceiling of St. James the Greater, serving as a warning to thieves.

The largest known Ancient Egyptian obelisk.

Ozymandias’ time-keeping temple.

In Egypt's expanding metro area, many of the neighbors are dead.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

A chain of 16 wondrous lakes formed as a result of the gradual dissolution of soluble layers of bedrock.

A musical instrument played by the sea.

Construction of Barcelona's iconic (but controversial) church is expected to be completed in 2026—a century after the death of its architect.

These mysterious ancient stone spheres were created by a civilization lost to time and are now mostly lawn ornaments.