Lived-in building, bedecked with an astonishing array of mirror mosaics.

This beautifully historic Bahrain fortress might not be the most popular attraction around, but that might make it all the better.

This bazaar is one of the oldest in the Arabian world.

This spectacular mosque houses the second-largest chandelier in the world.

One of a series of no-purpose kinetic artworks by Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely.

Featuring a meatless buffet fit for kings, this family-owned Zurich eatery is considered the oldest vegetarian restaurant in the West.

See the rare bloom of the "Queen of the Night" cactus at one of the world's largest succulent collections.

Museum preserving torture methods from the past.

A floating cat sanctuary on an Amsterdam canal.

The world's only museum devoted to the wonders of fluorescence.

The patron of this extravagant Art Nouveau confection insisted that nothing less than a boat should project from its facade.

This Polish cave has housed a dragon, a brothel, and an enduring legend.

Real bones which are said to have belonged to a Polish dragon.

Vienna's giant wonder wheel had a starring role in one of the greatest noir movies of all time.

Pettah's beautiful floating market was once a stinky canal in a sketchy industrial area.

Hundreds of thousands of ancient documents offer a unique glimpse into Jewish life in Cairo.

A preserved oasis with traditional Andalusian-style architecture and beautiful views of the Nile.

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

The massive cave church of Cairo's Zabbaleen community is one of the largest Christian churches in the Middle East.

An ancient instrument used to measure the waters of the Nile so Egyptian farmers would know whether to expect famine or flood.

Turkish adventurer antiques in the heart of the Grand Bazaar.

This eatery re-creates dishes from the Ottoman Empire so you can dine like a sultan.

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

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