Spring that emits water and fire at the same time is said to have remedial properties, and sparked its own religion.

17th century mosque for Shah Abbas' harem.

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

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

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

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

A dreamy mausoleum honors Persia's most famous poet.

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

The world's largest frame offers spectacular views of the city's past and present.

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

This indoor ski resort has a mountain contained inside a mall.

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

Whitewashed mosque contains the world's largest carpet.

This mysterious abandoned fort looks like something pulled right from Arabian legend.

Groups of prehistoric tombs that dot the mountains of northern Oman.

This beautifully restored fortification kept the city safe for centuries.

A sinkhole and now a swimming hole, too, full of dazzling turquoise water.

Yemen's "Stone Palace" looks like it was carved right out of the tall stone column on which it is built.

A mesmerizing reservoir nestled at the heart of a pre-Islamic Yemeni village.

One of the most remote and isolated villages on the Arabian Peninsula.

Elaborate patterns adorn the city's disappearing traditional architecture.

This impressive system of tanks was used to store drinking water as long as 2,000 years ago.

Swirling layers of white and red rock earned these mountains their festive nickname.

Kuwait City's uniquely designed water towers look straight out of a retro sci-fi cityscape.