St. Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye Dec. 29, 2025

On a windswept plateau in eastern Türkiye, along the border with Armenia, the ruins of the ancient city of Ani rise from the landscape with striking clarity. A millennium ago, Ani was a thriving Armenian capital on a major Silk Road route, its fortifications and busy streets shaping trade and culture across the region. Today, the city is quiet, but its outline still carries the weight of its past.

© Kenan Talas/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

The butterfly effect
Dec. 29, 2023Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dec. 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr. 23, 2026Shakespeare Day
Where are these illuminated walkways?
Oct. 23, 2024Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire, United States
The sea pool of Penzance
This blue succulent is as good as gold here
Apr. 4, 2025Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan
To the infinite and back
A day for the worlds Indigenous populations
Dec. 29, 2025St. Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye
Mar. 5, 2024Bangkok, Thailand
Jun. 7, 2024World Oceans Day
Apr. 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Sep. 27, 2024Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
One on land, a million in space
Mar. 9, 2024Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico, USA
Were halfway there
Oct. 1, 2025Clark Range, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Dec. 18, 2024English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
Jan. 3, 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Celebrating Canada and Englands common bond
Aug. 18, 2024Huntington Beach Pier, California, USA
Oct. 30, 2023Common raven
Nov. 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta
Apr. 24, 2025Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska, United States
Giddy family fun
Apr. 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Jewel of the Adriatic
A butterfly’s best friend
Oct. 25, 2024Frankenstein Friday
Aug. 22, 2023Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia