The history of Mar Behnam Monastery is that of violence, intolerance, resiliency, and spirituality.

The home of Iraq's former prime minister now houses historical manuscripts.

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

Leaking natural gas never stops burning on this hill, making it an infinite inferno.

This remote mountain shrine is one of the most sacred Zoroastrian temples remaining in the world.

This 17th-century structure is a beautiful testimony to traditional Persian architecture

The cathedral stands in New Jufa, Isfahan's Armenian quarter that was established in 1606.

One of the world's largest shopping malls covers an area of 15 million square feet—and it's still set to grow.

A graveyard of old and rare planes that once were the glory of Persian aviation.

Once a major stop on the Hejaz Railway, this desert station (complete with steam locomotive) has been abandoned for decades.

The observation point offers spectacular views of the ruins of an ancient Armenian capital.

A rehabilitation center for confiscated, orphaned, and abandoned chimpanzees.

This river island in Sierra Leone is home to impressive biodiversity and the country's first community conservation program.

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

Housed in an old British jail, this spot serves up Georgian, Russian, and Ukrainian specialities with a side of Turkish history.

It's believed that this small church was connected to the Hagia Sophia via a secret tunnel.

A little-known caravanserai hidden among farmhouses in the Turkish countryside.

A tiny park in the middle of some big power politics.

This airport also offers travelers the chance to view thousands of years of Turkish history.

This arch granting triumphal entrance into Antalya was designed to honor the emperor's visit.

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

A surprising and unconventional mosque hidden in the subsoil of Istanbul.

This shuttered power plant is now Turkey's first industrial archaeology museum.

This former Imperial summer home was the venue for a royal slap that once echoed 'round the world.