Founded in the 4th-century, the town of Pernik plays host to the Surva Carnival⁠—a magnificent display of masked Kukeri dancers.

An homage to the medieval rulers of Bulgaria.

"Holy Wisdom" overlooks the city that became its namesake.

The remarkably well-preserved final resting place of a powerful ancient Thracian king.

A magnificent, glittering building tucked into a tiny Bulgarian mountain town.

This ancient theater, restored in the 20th century, lives on as a venue for dramatic and musical performances.

UNESCO-protected ancient burial ground.

The site of many battles and tragedies, including the 40 maidens who leapt into the sea.

This palatial spiral staircase was so unusual the name "snail" was given to the noble family who built it.

With over 10,000 lights, this engineering marvel lights up the city after dark.

An elevator into the Baltic Sea.

The charmingly disheveled clock tower of Tbilisi's puppet theater.

Unusual building appears to be haphazardly built from randomly piled bricks.

A small but hugely whimsical theater where marionettes play out the "The Battle of Stalingrad."

The NASA scientists behind Apollo 11 started out developing Nazi weapons at this abandoned German rocket factory.

Luxury hotel turned into a refugee camp, then turned back into a luxury hotel.

When the Soviets destroyed the historic Armenian monastery they somehow left its bell tower intact.

Fast food feels like fine dining at this award-winning modern Georgian building.

The decaying remains of a once-luxurious Soviet spa town.

Small church on top of a huge rock column.

These Stalin-era industrial 'death traps' hang lifeless above the city

A literally moving statue of stacked metal giants just continually trying (and failing) to find love.

Take respite inside this jaw-dropping church while climbing the volcano where Georgia's Prometheus was once chained.

The first skyscraper to include a Ferris wheel built into the facade.