The most famous location in China was home to whole dynasties worth of imperial rulers.

A terrific purveyor of natural history objects and curios.

Giant Redwood-themed cafeteria operates under the golden rule, "Dine Free Unless Delighted."

The legendary building that needed ghostly approval before being built.

This iconic L.A. bookshop is housed in an abandoned bank—both symbolic and chic.

Once a purveyor of Santeria supplies, religious products , and household sundries, now closed.

Religious structure known for its sculpted details.

Romania's triumphal arch looks out over Bucharest.

A small town Romanian cemetery filled with darkly humorous gravestones.

A Turkish ghost town abandoned in a population exchange with Greece.

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

In this historic region, homes and churches are carved into ancient volcanic rock formations.

The ancient latrines of the Greeks, in all their public glory.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

The alleged house of the Virgin Mary is tucked away in a park and nature preserve on Mt. Koressos in Turkey and is holy to both Catholics and Muslims alike.

The deepest underground city in Turkey was designed to protect 20,000 people behind massive stone doors.

The lavish temple of the Cao Dai religion that includes Buddha, Mohammed, Joan of Arc, and Victor Hugo.

Ho Chi Minh's perfectly preserved body has been on display here since 1975.

Giant pagoda houses the car that drove Thích Quảng Đức to his death by self-immolation.

An extravagant monument to an extravagantly unpopular Emperor.