oaivil's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Cascade, Colorado

Pikes Peak Summit House

Thanks to a quirk of elevation this gift shop produces magic doughnuts that are found nowhere else on Earth.
New Orleans, Louisiana

St. Louis Cathedral

This cathedral dedicated to Louis IX, sainted King of France, holds many secrets.
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petroglyph National Monument

Thousands of pieces of art have been carved into the rock at the site of an ancient volcanic eruption.
Demre, Turkey

Church of St. Nicholas

This church houses the tomb—but not the remains—of St. Nicholas, the likely progenitor to Santa Claus.
Albuquerque, New Mexico

KiMo Theatre

This opulent Pueblo Deco movie palace melds Art Deco and Native American motifs.
Selçuk, Turkey

The Public Toilets of Ephesus

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

Serpent Column

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

Tünel

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

House of the Virgin Mary

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.
Kuşadası, Turkey

Kuşadası

A charming beach town in Turkey captures all the colors of the rainbow.
Çumra, Turkey

Çatalhöyük

The largest Neolithic ruins in the world hide a notably clean prehistoric metropolis.
Istanbul, Turkey

Piri Reis Map at Topkapi Palace

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

Derinkuyu Underground City

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

Tombs of the Sultans

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

Pluto's Gate

A deadly ancient portal to the underworld.
Çanakkale, Turkey

Troy

This famous city eluded concrete detection until the early 2000's.
Denizli, Turkey

Pamukkale Water Terraces

Roman ruins top white travertine terraces formed by ancient hot springs.
Aksaray, Turkey

Cappadocia

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

Centre Pompidou

An "inside out" building in the historical center of Paris, featuring Europe’s largest modern art museum.
Waimea, Hawaii

Parker Ranch

This Hawaiian cattle ranch acts as a museum devoted to the island cowboys that predate the wild west.
Captain Cook, Hawaii

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau

These ancient sacred grounds granted amnesty to those who managed to reach them.
Port Townsend, Washington

Fort Worden Artillery Battery

An abandoned network of military bunkers and tunnels open for anyone willing to descend into the darkness.
Pepeekeo, Hawaii

'Akaka Falls

These picturesque Hawaiian falls are home to a rare species of fish that uses a special sucker to climb up cliffs.
Safranbolu, Turkey

Safranbolu, Turkey

Ottoman-era houses lovingly preserved.