philoursmars's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Places visited in Marseille, France
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Palestrina, Italy

Nile Mosaic of Palestrina

This splendid mosaic embodies ancient Rome's fascination with the exotic allure of Egypt.
Zhangye Shi, China

Mati Si

Monks turned this mountain into a temple by digging grottoes, tunnels, and a huge pagoda-like hall.
Nativitas, Mexico

Murals of Cacaxtla

These strikingly colorful paintings were created by a mysterious Mesoamerican civilization.
Tula, Mexico

Tula Giants

These enigmatic columns tower over the ruins of an ancient Toltec city.
Mialet, France

100,000 Soldiers of Trabuc Caves

This army of concretions is an unexplained geological phenomenon unlike anything else in the world.
Kaiteriteri, New Zealand

Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock

This unusual rock formation looks like an apple that has been neatly sliced in half.
Jaisalmer, India

Jaisalmer Fort

The oldest still-inhabited hill fort in India looks like a magnificent golden sandcastle.
Jodhpur, India

Mehrangarh Fort

This stunning 15th-century royal hill fort preserves the age of chivalry in Rajasthan.
Wasserauen, Switzerland

Berggasthaus Aescher Wildkirchli

This 170-year-old Swiss guesthouse built into the side of a mountain is best accessed by a cable car.
Istanbul, Turkey

Ottoman Bird Palaces

The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.
Abang, Indonesia

Pura Lempuyang Luhur

Bali's remote "gateway to heaven" is one of the most sacred places on the island.
Guatape, Colombia

Guatapé

The Andean town where every single building is decorated with a brightly colored frieze.
Adalaj, India

Adalaj Ni Vav

A deeply beautiful 15th-century stepwell with a tragic story.
Glenfinnan, Scotland

Glenfinnan Viaduct

Now famous as the "Harry Potter bridge," this impressive concrete viaduct has long been an icon in its own right.
Patan, India

Rani Ki Vav

This magnificent stepwell is designed as an inverted temple and adorned with 1,500 sculptures.
Iceland

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Strange rock formations tower above the river that snakes through this enchanting Icelandic canyon.
Rome, Italy

Galleria Sciarra

This hidden Art Nouveau courtyard is an opulent feast for the eyes.
East Tigray, Ethiopia

Abuna Yemata Guh

Reaching the "Church in the Sky" requires scaling the cliff face of a sandstone pinnacle with a 650-foot drop.
Tianjin, China

Tianjin Binhai Library

China’s breathtaking futuristic library is lined floor to ceiling with fake books.
Kerman, Iran

Lut Desert (Dasht-e Lut)

The hottest, driest, and most scenic desert on Earth.
Venice, Italy

Scala Contarini del Bovolo

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

Cathedral of Brasília

A stunning Catholic cathedral built by a curve-loving communist in Brazil’s newly created capital.
Chamchamal, Iraq

Chamchamal Fire Well

A boiling wellspring flowing with natural gas burns in a continual blaze.
Moscow, Russia

Moscow Metro Stations

The gorgeous entrances into the city's underbelly look more like grand halls than subway stops.