olaobrien's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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London, England

Shoreditch Town Hall

A recently restored Shoreditch landmark with ties to Jack the Ripper.
London, England

St. Leonard Church of Shoreditch

Historic church where a number of Shakespeare's actors are buried.
Istanbul, Turkey

Palace of the Porphyrogenitus

Byzantine emperors ruled, lived, and died in this 13th-century palace-turned-museum.
Istanbul, Turkey

Pierre Loti Hill

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

Column of the Goths

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

Camondo Stairs

A gorgeous, Gaudí-esque stairway constructed in the city of Istanbul by a prominent Jewish family.
Istanbul, Turkey

Pudding Shop (Lale Restaurant)

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

Vlora Hanı

An Art Nouveau gem hides beneath the layers of city grime obscuring this once-magnificent building.
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.
Istanbul, Turkey

Tombs of the Sultans

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

Viking Runes at Hagia Sophia

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

Ottoman Bird Palaces

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

Basilica Cisterns of Istanbul

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.
London, England

'The Wisdom of Solomon' Stone Pyramid

This mysterious pyramid is said to be part of a complex web of occult and Freemason symbols.
London, England

Tongue & Brisket

This third-generation institution is one of the last in London that still cures its own salt beef for epic sandwiches.
Brooklyn, New York

The Bone Museum

This museum dedicated to the history of the medical bone trade and human osteology.
London, England

Jeremy Bentham's Auto-Icon

The remains of the great moral philosopher reside in a university in London.
London, England

Gordon Museum of Pathology

One of the world's largest collections of pathological specimens.
London, England

A Geological Map of England and Wales and Part of Scotland

William Smith's iconic "map that changed the world" is hidden behind a curtain in the Geological Society building.
London, England

Tower of London's Ceremony of the Keys

The ritual has been performed uninterrupted for nearly 700 years.
London, England

Goldsmith's Garden

A secluded green oasis amidst the towering skyscrapers, bears an unusual moniker that reflects one of the city's oldest guilds.
London, England

Michael Faraday's Laboratory

The lab where the scientist made his groundbreaking discoveries is preserved on the basement floor of the Faraday Museum.
London, England

British Dental Museum

The collection contains over 25,000 items and details the painful dental practices of the past.
London, England

Barnet Physic Well

A mineral spring that became all the rage in 17th-century England.