A preposterously luxurious hotel with gold-plated iPads, Rolls Royce chauffeurs, and a staff that trains by watching "Downton Abbey."

On any given day this sprawling market houses literally tons of government-regulated gold, gems, and precious metals.

The fire inside this temple has burned for more than 1,500 years.

The hottest, driest, and most scenic desert on Earth.

In this tiny Iranian town playing on the roof isn't just encouraged, it's the only place to go.

This 12,000 year old Iranian cave village has been continuously inhabited for over 3,000 years.

A spectacular rainbow of stained glass makes the "Pink Mosque" one of the most beautiful in Iran.

Named after a legendary garden called Eram in southern Arabia, built by order of Shaddad, an Arab king who wanted to compete with Paradise.

This vast, water-filled underground labyrinth can only be toured by boat.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Marked by the hand of the explorer Henry Morton Stanley.

The ancient necropolis houses the immense rock-cut tombs of four Persian kings.

This beautiful system of tunnels built into natural rock serves as a centuries old plumbing system.

This ancient burial site is believed to be one of the first earthquake-protected structures in the world.

The most sacred Jewish shrine in Iran and a fine example of restoration works gone wrong.

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.

Long before air conditioning, Persian architects found an ingenious way to cool off.

The tower in this 1,000-year-old mud-brick village seems to vibrate for no apparent reason.

This circular Iranian jail was once a political prison run by the country's secret police.

One of the largest and oldest caravansaries in Persia.

This 17th-century structure is a beautiful testimony to traditional Persian architecture

These little castles each held thousands of pigeons.

17th century mosque for Shah Abbas' harem.

A historic trade hub teeming with gorgeous architecture, colorful goods, and vibrant designs.