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

A dreamy mausoleum honors Persia's most famous poet.

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

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

17th century mosque for Shah Abbas' harem.

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

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

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

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

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

Hundreds of intricately carved Armenian stone crosses can be found within this huge cemetery.

This ancient monastery complex was transformed from an island to a peninsula when the lake was partially drained.

This series of Armenian caves held the oldest brain, shoe, and winery in the world.

Centuries before the modern seismograph, Armenian monks measured quakes with this tilting pillar.

A towering spire in the fortress of Kalemegdan honors the victorious armies of Serbia during their struggles against the Ottoman Empire.

A pair of connected skyscrapers form this symbolic gateway.

A remote island settlement off the coast of Tanzania is a storied archaeological site with an ancient past.

Freddie Mercury's childhood home is now a monument to the iconic Queen rockstar.

After sunset the heart of Zanzibar's historic Stone Town neighborhood transforms into a culinary playground.

Sitting atop a rock on Michamvi Pingwe beach, this restaurant becomes its own island at high tide.

An Ethiopian "Jerusalem" featuring a church hewn out of a single rock.

An otherworldly restaurant perched on the edge of a jagged cliff next to a medieval holy city.

The largest salt lake in the Sahara is mysteriously alluring.

Founded in 670, this ancient mosque is an architectural time portal.