The picturesque birthplace of Icelandic democracy is drenched in the blood of its brutal past.

Three columns of volcanic rock shoot out of the ocean.

The oldest (maybe) swimming pool in Iceland is a stunning oasis built into the side of a lush hill.

If a glacial river suddenly diving into a sheer chasm via a dramatic, multi-stage waterfall isn't peak Iceland, it's certainly close.

This valley of hot springs and boiling mud pots is home to the record-holding "Geysir," which originated the English word.

Strange rock formations tower above the river that snakes through this enchanting Icelandic canyon.

Iceland's largest lagoon is home to stunning multi-colored icebergs.

One of the tallest buildings in Iceland, and perhaps, the most visually impressive.

This fantastical waterfall is hidden in a cave located in a cracked cliff.

A New York–based physician returned home to Spain to build his own elaborate monument to Christopher Columbus.

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

Bronzes and busts that once stood in the city's main squares are now relegated to a small hidden courtyard.

An Albanian monument to the Communism that nearly crushed the country is now a crumbling wreck.

What happens when you cross a mayor and a painter?

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

This ominous Albanian fortress houses tanks and downed planes as a reminder of their victories over Western imperialism.

A naturally beautiful, seemingly bottomless deep blue spring.

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