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

The alleged house of the Virgin Mary is tucked away in a park and nature preserve on Mt. Koressos in Turkey and is holy to both Catholics and Muslims alike.

The ancient latrines of the Greeks, in all their public glory.

The most metal church of all time was built in record time because of an international, pious pissing contest.

An ancient church on a tiny island covered in stone bible stories has controversially been turned into a museum.

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

Roman ruins, natural methane fires and a lovely beach.

An abused and forgotten metropolis, abandoned for centuries.

These tombs were built into the side of a mountain so that ancient angels could reach the dead.

This bazaar is one of the oldest in the Arabian world.

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

An imposing Omani fortress surrounded by date palm trees.

A monumental underground karstic wonderland is also the water source for over a million citizens of Beirut.

The largest hewn stone in history.

A bathhouse from the second Islamic Caliphate decorated with frescoes of constellations, pleasure gardens, and naked ladies.

The world's oldest map of the holy land gives us a fragmented glimpse of the layout of biblical nations.

The most gigantic, swoony, intimidating trio of fingers in all of antiquity.

A more chill but no less fascinating version of the famous ancient archeological site.

Gladiators battle and chariots race daily in the ruins of a once-great Roman city.

An ancient capital city that dates back 3,000 years old and harbors many surprises.

This clock is an architectural flourish that stands out as a landmark among a unique Israeli German community.

This historic rec center in the heart of Israel is a bastion of peace and togetherness.

After over 100 years out of service this landmark windmill once again turns as a symbol of Jerusalem's self-sufficiency.

One of the few guarded stops along the great spice route.