Lyon's "Wall of the Silk Weavers" is one of the largest murals in Europe.

Have tea in a cemetery with a dazzling view of Istanbul.

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

This historic hotel preserves many treasures from its heyday hosting passengers on the Orient Express.

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

No one is sure if the world's fourth-largest diamond had been found in a rubbish heap or was pawned by Napoleon's mom.

This column celebrates Rome's victory over the Goths, and may be the oldest Roman monument in Istanbul.

This half-forgotten fortress was constructed by the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople.

Ancient serpentine sacrifice holder that has stood the test of time.

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.

Five sultans and their families rest in eternal splendor, teeming with overlooked beauty and drama.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

The world's largest second-hand graces a clock surrounded by constantly changing flower beds. 

An opulent monument built for a duke who donated his entire fortune to the city of Geneva.

One of the most historical literary characters continues to stroll his hometown.

An ancient Roman temple first dedicated to an emperor's wife is now a church.

This hidden alley near the location of Rome's first theater was the site of a curious miracle.

This one-of-a-kind Roman arch is not actually dedicated to the god Janus.

This small, ancient Roman temple was once a church dedicated to the patron saint of penitents.

The only remaining arch of the oldest stone bridge in Rome stands in the middle of the Tiber.

The ruins of the largest gladiatorial school in Rome are largely hidden under modern streets.

A detailed pachyderm supports Rome's smallest Egyptian obelisk.

Installed in an act of one-upsmanship, the annual sundial in this church is also a symbolic victory for the Gregorian calendar.