This picturesque medieval monastery guards a small trove of historic treasures.

When a supermarket opened up shop within a medieval building it became protected by UNESCO on a technicality.

An ethereal glowing blue ocean cave in Croatia.

Longest fortress system anywhere in Europe.

This lesser-visited gallery in a corner of the Tokyo National Museum complex is an architectural beauty dedicated to the ancient treasures of Hōryū-ji.

Gargoyle head that brings good luck.

A wunderkammer of gold and silver reliquaries and ancient saintly bones.

The complex has been abandoned since the Croatian War of Independence, barring a stint as a set for 'Game of Thrones.'

A beautiful mountaintop mausoleum devoted to a Montenegrin icon can't seem to make everyone happy.

One of the world's oldest olive trees, thought to be over 2,000 years old.

The elliptical citadel resisted the advance of the mighty Ottomans several times, thanks to the military prowess of the "Dragon of Albania."

A temple dedicated to the 13th-century Alevi Turkish dervish credited with bringing Islam to the Balkans.

Once the fallout shelter of a dictator, this sprawling bunker is now a combined history museum and contemporary art gallery.

According to a local legend, this old castle could only be built after a woman was immured in the walls.

The largest Roman amphitheater in the Balkans once held over 20,000 people, but managed to lay hidden for hundreds of years.

This remote church calls a tiny island its sanctuary.

One of 200 religious buildings recognized as a “culture monument.” 

Nestled at the southern end of the Bay of Vlore in Albania resides ruins that contain Illyrian, Greek, and Roman influences.

Climb into Albania's communist history while enjoying a spectacular ocean view.

A medieval bridge stretches over a sulfur-rich river that leads to year-round natural hot springs.

These abundant, over-the-top monuments are so widely scattered that they define the entire compact capital cityscape, often leading to jokes about whether there are more statues than residents.

This fortress dates back to the 6th century and is also the site of a controversial abandoned restoration project.

A solar-powered primary school inspires hope and experimentation in a country ripe for energy innovation.

This 3,800-year-old site contains markers used to study the movement of the sun and moon and create a lunar calendar.