Unfinished monument to peace between Turkey and Armenia, long divided by a dispute over genocide.

This church houses the tomb—but not the remains—of St. Nicholas, the likely progenitor to Santa Claus.

An underground network of massive stone arches and their skylit vaults support ruins of portico structures above.

One of the most exquisite Lycian hilltop citadels in Turkey.

Remnants of successive wars and Muslim colonialism in the 11th century.

The only residents of this abandoned housing development full of identical castles are stray cats and dogs.

This ancient abandoned church in a remote part of Turkey is in danger of falling over.

These ruins once flourished as the capital of the Lydian kingdom, often credited with the invention of metal coinage.

This hidden gem is bathed in beautiful natural light.

One of the largest wooden constructions in Europe was meant to be a casino, but soon became an orphanage.

A sixth-century Byzantine cistern hidden below a modern carpet store.

A mysterious ancient cemetery with Roman sarcophagi and Lycian inscriptions.

The ancient abodes are a testament to human ingenuity amid harsh climates.

Mausoleum and Holy Seat of Antiochus I of Commagene.

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

The best-preserved ancient theater in the world.

While not Turkey's deepest underground city, this subterranean redoubt is the largest.

Flames have been burning within this mountain for more than 2,500 years.

Once described as the "Eagle's Nest," this ruined ancient city rests on a remote mountaintop.

Naturally protected city carved from a rock face.

A Turkish ghost town abandoned in a population exchange with Greece.

An abused and forgotten metropolis, abandoned for centuries.

A Lycian city of the dead carved into the hillside of Southern Turkey, complete with startlingly human touches.

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