One of 200 religious buildings recognized as a “culture monument.” 

An Albanian monument to the Communism that nearly crushed the country is now a crumbling wreck.

Bronzes and busts that once stood in the city's main squares are now relegated to a small hidden courtyard.

This fortress dates back to the 6th century and is also the site of a controversial abandoned restoration project.

These abundant, over-the-top monuments are so widely scattered that they define the entire compact capital cityscape, often leading to jokes about whether there are more statues than residents.

In the hometown of the Catholic saint and Nobel Peace Prize winner, a memorial dedicated to her legacy.

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

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

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

This column celebrates Rome's victory over the Goths, and may be the oldest Roman monument in Istanbul.

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

This former Imperial summer home was the venue for a royal slap that once echoed 'round the world.

This ancient subterranean megalopolis is known for the hot oil traps that were installed above each of its entrances.

The ancient mosaics here are considered among the finest in the world, and serve as a stunning record of Greco-Roman daily life.

An ancient necropolis of magnificent tombs.

Freddie Mercury's childhood home is now a monument to the iconic Queen rockstar.

In Zanzibar, a historic 19th-century palace is a reminder of the world's shortest war.

Over the course of its history, this tiny island has held enslaved people in transit and served as a quarantine zone. Today, it's a giant tortoise sanctuary.

While the U.S. and Soviet Union were engaged in a space race, Poland built a UFO on the ground.

The former Nazi concentration camp stands as a museum to remember this dark chapter in European history.

An underground city of salt.

Krakow's own version of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

St. Mary's features one of the most spectacularly decorated cathedral interiors in all of Europe.

A tribute to the Polish insurgents who fought in the failed attempt to end their city's Nazi occupation.