Ani

Ani presents a haunting, unbroken vista of medieval Armenian architecture on the Turkish-Armenian border, with over 20 crumbling churches and mosques spread across 100 hectares. The 11th-century Cathedral of Ani, with its pointed arches and its 35-meter-high central dome, stands as a precursor to Gothic European cathedrals. Compared to Gobeklitepe, Ani's narrative is one of geopolitical decline, with its population falling from 100,000 in its golden age to zero by the 14th century. Its remarkable UNESCO designation in 2016.