eliasirving's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Istanbul, Turkey

Piri Reis Map at Topkapi Palace

1513 Turkish world map, full of European state secrets and snarky commentary.
Annetta Black Added by Annetta Black
Istanbul, Turkey

Golden Horn Chain

A section of the long chain that blocked enemy ships from entering Constantinople.
Luis Morato Added by Luis Morato
Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul 2461

Quite possibly the oldest love poem known to humankind.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Istanbul, Turkey

Viking Runes at Hagia Sophia

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.
Joel Cusumano Added by Joel Cusumano
Istanbul, Turkey

Tombs of the Sultans

Five sultans and their families rest in eternal splendor, teeming with overlooked beauty and drama.
leiris Added by leiris
Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia Wishing Column

Legend says if you stick your thumb in the hole and it gets wet, your wish will be granted.
Luis Morato Added by Luis Morato
Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.
Annetta Black Added by Annetta Black
Istanbul, Turkey

Pudding Shop (Lale Restaurant)

This crucial gathering spot along the "hippie trail" still displays old notes between traveling beatniks and backpackers.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Istanbul, Turkey

Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain

A fountain standing as a testament to a doomed alliance.
daneder Added by daneder
Istanbul, Turkey

Obelisk of Theodosius

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.
Added by kirbyf
Istanbul, Turkey

Serpent Column

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

Isa Yusuf Alptekin Park

A tiny park in the middle of some big power politics.
Adam Sarac Added by Adam Sarac
Istanbul, Turkey

Nakilbent Cistern

A sixth-century Byzantine cistern hidden below a modern carpet store.
Luis Morato Added by Luis Morato
Vĩnh Thạch, Vietnam

Vịnh Mốc Tunnel Complex

This network of tunnels housed an entire village for years, and even had a hall for screening movies.
Added by Capos
Huế, Vietnam

Thien Mu Pagoda

Giant pagoda houses the car that drove Thích Quảng Đức to his death by self-immolation.
serflac Added by serflac
Huế, Vietnam

Hổ Quyền (Tiger Arena)

Perhaps the only one of its kind, the nearly-forgotten site once held mortal (and rigged) gladiatorial games between tigers and imperial war elephants.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Hương Thủy, Vietnam

The Tomb of Nguyen Emperor Khai Dinh

An extravagant monument to an extravagantly unpopular Emperor.
likethefox Added by likethefox
Hòa Vang, Vietnam

Golden Bridge

This spectacular bridge supported by two gigantic hands looks like something out of a fantasy universe.
hrnick Added by hrnick
Da Nang, Vietnam

Lady Buddha

Vietnam's largest Buddha statue depicts a female sage.
Added by vjm212
Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang Cathedral

This candy-pink cathedral of Da Nang is also known as the Chicken Church.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Hội An, Vietnam

Nam Trân

This antique shop offers affordable 15th-century Vietnamese ceramics salvaged from a local shipwreck.
Fred Cherrygarden Added by Fred Cherrygarden
Boawae, Indonesia

Liang Bua Cave

A real-life "hobbit" cave in Flores, Indonesia.
bradenh83 Added by bradenh83
Ruteng, Indonesia

Spider Web Rice Fields

The unique design was created by the traditional way communal rice paddies were divided among the indigenous people.
siewch Added by siewch
East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Komodo National Park

A sprawling nature preserve harbors the world's only living dragons.
Added by pozz4123