The ancient necropolis houses the immense rock-cut tombs of four Persian kings.

Putrefaction plateaus in Iran, where the dead were sent for decontamination before going to their final resting place.

A spectacular rainbow of stained glass makes the "Pink Mosque" one of the most beautiful in Iran.

The palace of the King of Kings, burned by Alexander the Great.

Mirrors and glass shards cover every inch of this arrestingly beautiful mosque.

Iconic pyramid from famed British architect Norman Foster designed to represent all of the world's religious faiths.

A modern tower, symbolizing the legend of a golden egg on top of the tree of life.

An entertainment center in a huge transparent tent.

Touching displays of wishes for peace from the Cold War era.

Looking for a unifying history, Uzbekistan finds its answer in a 14th Century Turco-Mongol conqueror... despite the fact he wasn't Uzbek.

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

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

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

Mostly underground in the old days Back in the USSR, today the Beatles beckon to tourists from a wall sculpture out in the open in central Russia.

One of the last examples of Soviet architectural propaganda has a few technological tricks up its sleeve.

A monument to the defenders of the Arctic in Murmansk, Russia.

300-year-old villagers houses and traditional churches preserve a nearly lost piece of Russian history.

This newly renovated Soviet-era outdoor exhibition center is bigger than the principality of Monaco.

Russia's giant concrete QWERTY keyboard is likely the largest in the world.

One of the world's tallest statues is also one of its most hated.

Gargantuan home of Russian science.

Monastery, army base, and infamous Soviet Gulag in the far Russian north.

Stalinist skyscraper built with help of cryotechnology.

Church built on the site where the last tsar of Russia and his family were killed.