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

A 1,500-year-old, 3-story subterranean city where ancient Persians took refuge in times of war.

Ancient structures used to make and preserve ice in the deserts of Persia.

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.

Iran's colorful terraces are a rare geological masterpiece.

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

A beautiful 19th-century Armenian mansion is preserved above an unassuming cafe.

Natural rock formation, or biblical artifact that saved Earth's wildlife two by two?

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.

This mysterious cliffside carving of an ancient Hittite deity has baffled scholars for centuries.

The eclectic home of a leading Turkish architect is a gorgeous piece of eye candy.

This hidden gem is bathed in beautiful natural light.

A mysterious ancient cemetery with Roman sarcophagi and Lycian inscriptions.

Over the centuries, this island paradise has done it all, from providing monks with ecclesiastical respite to sheltering an exiled Leon Trotsky.

Fantastic lake on the heart of a fault line.

A sacred lake with thousands of sacred carp and a biblical history.

An Art Nouveau gem hides beneath the layers of city grime obscuring this once-magnificent building.

This Turkish cave boasts some rather bizarre associations with the King of Mount Olympus.

Standing proud atop a Turkish bluff, this Ottoman palace has retained its grandeur despite being abandoned for centuries.

A Turkish monastery tucked into a cliff wall.

Ottoman-era houses lovingly preserved.

Live a night as a Byzantine King, with a minibar and private jacuzzi.

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

Naturally protected city carved from a rock face.