Giant cauldrons overflow with Uzbekistan's favorite rice dish at this cavernous dining hall.

Prowl through this sprawling bazaar under a massive Soviet-era dome for delicious eats.

Once a luxurious flagship of the Soviet Union, this Brutalist structure remains a landmark of Tashkent’s communist past.

These "50 Fortresses" have been unearthed in the ancient oasis of Khwarezm.

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

Where Stoddart and Connolly suffered in the infamous Bug Pit.

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

An 18-meter-long sarcophagus of a constantly growing dead prophet.

An underground world of gorgeous, palatial metro stations designed as a nuclear shelter complex.

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

Controversially restored in the 1970s, this giant 15th-century mosque is shrouded in legend.

A gigantic collection of teeny, tiny books.

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

A unique museum dedicated to culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

Flamboyant architecture from the turn of 20th century.

A former Latvian headquarters of the brutal KGB secret police is now open as a grim reminder of their atrocities.

3,000 market stands in five former Zeppelin hangars.

Latvia's symbolic mountain-shaped national library is home to millions of cultural tomes.

This seaside pine grove features an exclusive watchtower that presents amazing views.

A Latvian rescuer who saved countless lives during World War II.

A monument to the grand synagogue that stood in this space before Nazis burned it down.

This enigmatic artifact remained buried in a churchyard for years.

A statue built to honor the elite soldiers who fought for Latvia during World War I.