History is haunted by mythical lands. From the homes of legendary kings to the earthly abodes of gods and monsters, civilizations have always dreamed of extraordinary places hiding in plain sight. But ...

Our collective desire to escape may be approaching a fever pitch. Escape what? Oh, take your pick. A few things on my personal list: Screens, the rise of authoritarianism, persistent wars, AI ...

There's something about mythology that makes certain places feel untouchable, like they belong to a time long gone. Some look exactly as you'd imagine—otherworldly, cinematic, almost too perfect to be ...