The “Sistine Chapel” of the Middle Ages merges 11th-century science and religion in wondrous hues.

A rare pod of derelict midcentury Futuro and Venturo houses lines a semi-abandoned beachfront resort outside Taipei.

Two ancient Buddhist temples crown this dramatic rocky pinnacle.

Isolated atop this Balinese sea crag is a lovely Hindu temple that is said to be guarded by sea snakes.

Named for the DeFoe novel inspired by a stranded sailor, this island is known for its rare plants and extreme beauty.

This ancient temple is set up to take you on a pilgrimage of self.

This astonishingly geometric cave has inspired everyone from Jules Verne to Pink Floyd.

Inside a beautiful Indian temple is a seemingly magical floating pillar that doesn't touch the ground.

The ruins of this medieval castle on a foggy hill tell the story of a once-mighty empire.

The oldest residential street in Europe also features an optical illusion.

This ancient Visigothic church might hide an ancient treasure.

An isolated 17th-century chapel on a remarkable site once dedicated to Celtic sun worship.

Constructed during the 7th century this is one of the oldest largely intact Christian churches in England.

Occupied for six centuries by Franciscan Order nuns, this monastery is an amazing ode to Catalán Gothic architecture.

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

The oldest church in Serbia was also the ecclesiastical seat of the region during the Middle Ages.

Only open for two days a year, this church links ancient Greek and modern Christian celebrations.

The last remaining predreadnought battleship in the world has been a museum for nearly a century.

A herd of 150 bison live on California's Santa Catalina Island and are at the heart of an ongoing debate between environmental protection and economic expansion.

Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.

A rare chance to get up close and personal with a 13-mile ribbon of ice near downtown Juneau.

Heralded as the world's first theater, these ruins are often overlooked as they reside in the shadows of the Acropolis.

Deceased nuns were placed on stone chairs to decompose, while the surviving nuns prayed near the lifeless bodies.

These quaint French houses dangle precariously over a precipice.