These roaring primates were considered a divine creature in the cosmology of the Maya.

Monkeys inhabit the lush forest surrounding ancient Mayan ruins once considered sacred.

Deep in the Guatemalan jungle stands an ancient pyramid that once marked the reign of a king.

One of the world's largest pyramids stands within El Mirador, the "lost city of the Maya."

Central America's deepest lake is actually a volcanic caldera, surrounded by three volcanoes.

The 10,000 Torii shrine.

Largest graveyard in all of Japan surrounds a famous mausoleum.

After a profound show of devotion for his master, a dog becomes the symbol of loyalty for an entire nation.

Enormous statue of the Emperor of the Mongols.

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

Foreign invaders almost left this lovely Caucasus palace alone—almost.

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

The courtyard of this small Marinid madrasa is a dazzling example of intricate Islamic architecture.

The oldest known university in the world is in Fez, Morocco.

Traditional 11th-century outdoor tannery.

God's Saharan sandbox of wrath.

The other side is actually green.

Thousands of narrow alleyways in an ancient medieval city make up what's believed to be the world's largest car-free urban zone.

A powerful tribute to the victims who suffered under Ethiopia's most devastating regime.

Supposedly this Ethiopian chapel holds the Ark of the Covenant, guarded by virgins who cannot leave the building.

Massive stele returned to Ethiopia after 70 years in Rome.

An otherworldly restaurant perched on the edge of a jagged cliff next to a medieval holy city.

An Ethiopian "Jerusalem" featuring a church hewn out of a single rock.

A Christian monastery stands on what was once a holy Incan temple.