Some of the world's most famous ruins can be found in Italy -- from , said to have been founded in sixth century BC, to the, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire completed in 80 AD. But the country also has some less ancient (but still spectacular) ruins that are luring tourists from all over. The haunting buildings of theVallone dei Mullini(Valley of the Mills) in Sorrento, Italy were only, according to Atlas Obscura. But theirremarkable location and eerie,...

Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates (AUH/OMAA) Designed by the French architecture firm ADPI, this tower at Abu Dhabi International Airport was completed in 2011 after only 629 days of work. At the peak of construction, 1,200 workers were on site 24 hours a day. More than 44 miles of cabling run up the central column, sandwiched between high-speed elevators that ascend to the 20th story in 55 seconds. The east and west facades are covered by ethylene tetrafluoroethylene...

When archaeologists undertook the task to evaluate the site of an old prison in Gloucester, England, they had no idea they would find such well-preserved castle ruins. The prison's complex featured buildings , while the site itself had been a jail for more than 500 years, Cotswold Archaeology said in a press release. Archaeologists revealed a 12th-century castle keep wall beneath the considerably more modern recreation yard. "The castle was a large structure, with the keep, which we have now...

Which destinations should you visit in 2016? TripAdvisor recently announcedits Travelers’ Choice awards for Destinations on the Rise for 2016, and topping the list of hottest destinations in the U.S. is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The top picks were calculated from an algorithm that measured the "year-over-year increase in positive TripAdvisor traveler feedback and interest in accommodations, restaurants and attractions, across destinations worldwide,"according to a TripAdvisor press release. "Our well-traveled community has helped us identify the destinations around the world that are...

A famous celebrity face is seen drawn in the snow. (ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images) Twostudents from theChangchun University of Technology in China have created an incredible drawing of Marilyn Monroe on a snow-covered soccer field. The students used shovels to carve out the drawing over the course of two days, according to Getty Images. The drawing was made days after students made a similar mural of Kobe Bryant on a , alsoin China. MORE FROM WEATHER.COM: Incredible Snow Art Made By Foot...

Photographer Wansun Luk traveled to Western Mongolia to spend time with and photographing eagle hunters preparing for the Golden Eagle Festival. (Wanson Luk) When photographer Wanson Luk traveled to Mongolia, he wanted to experience more than just a vacation, he wanted to capture something unique—the lifestyle and culture of Kazakh eagle hunters in the Bayan Ulgii area. Kazakhs are the , according to the BBC. With less than 400 practicing falconers, Luk had the chance to immerse himself in the...

Hikers making their way through heavy snow in a 5000ft high mountain range in below-freezing temperatures, in the Hakkoda Mountains, near Aomori, Japan. (Sho Shibata / Solent News and Photo Agency) As hikers trekked Japan's snow-covered Hakkoda Mountains, a volcanic mountain range that lies to the south of Aomori city in Aomori Prefecture, they discovered that they are not alone on the remote peaks, which rise up to 5,197 feet. A forest of ghostly, giant snowy figures—"snow monsters"—seem to be...

An ice-sculpture in the form of Star Wars character Yoda is displayed during the Star Wars Ice sculpture festival in Liege, Belgium on Dec. 16, 2015. (Rex Features via AP Images) As fans wait in anticipation for the premiere of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh installment in the much-beloved Star Wars film series, the International Ice Sculpture Festival inLiège, Belgium is fueling the excitement with icy, frozen recreations of Star Wars characters, including Yoda, Darth Vader, R2-D2,...

Highly Commended. 'It's not funny...I've got cramp in my flipper!' (Julie Hunt / Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards) Animals have the power to and the smaller—and cuter—variety can even ." But as the finalists from the 2015 Comedy Wildlife Photography prove, they can also make us laugh. While all the entries are laugh-worthy, Julian Rad ended up taking the first place prize with his image of an adorable hamster looking like it's in a rush. "Juding was really difficutl as we...

Europe is known for its beautiful art and architecture and rich culture, but it is also home to some of Mother Nature's best creations. From massive ice caves to majestic cliffs, natural wonders dot the European Union. Here, we round up the most amazing gem in each country, natural wonders you should see on your next European trips. (MORE: ) One natural wonder no traveler should miss on a European tour is Ireland's spectacular that stretch for five miles along...

Photographer Svein Nordrum captured an optical illusion known as the Brocken spectre on top of a hill in Norway. (Caters News Agency) was on top of a misty Norwegian hill when he noticed an incredible optical illusion. The photographer took several pictures that captured the phenomenon, known as a Brocken spectre. "The phenomena occurred when I was on the top of a hill as I had the low November sun in the back and fog in the front below," Nordrum...

A woman walks through the Gagarin park in the center of Yakutsk, East Siberia. Sunday, Dec 6, 2015. It was -35°C and breathing vapors turn into ice around face. (Max Avdeev) Yes, it really is as cold as it looks in one of the coldest cities on the planet. Winters in Yakutsk are brutal—temperatures in this remote city in eastern Siberia can fall below minus 50 F. What does that really feel like? The air here is cold enough to...

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile The Cuernos (Horns) del Paine grab the early morning light in Chile's wild Torres del Paine National Park. Once the haunt of a few stalwart climbers, the park now draws more than 100,000 visitors a year. (Photograph by Gleb Tarro, National Geographic Your Shot) National Geographic has long been known for stunning travel photography, featuring incredible images of the world's best destinations, most fascinating cultures and majestic natural wonders. To wrap up 2015, they...