On rare days, this abandoned castle's gatekeepers open its doors, revealing the eye-popping splendor hidden inside.

The location of the last witch trials of Italy, known as "The Salem of Europe."

This Tuscan lake hides a 13th century town that is still visible when the water recedes.

One of the largest caves in the world open to the public.

A hospital where antique dolls are given new life.

This medieval Italian town is a sheer (and beautiful) cliffside defense.

The remains of a town so thoroughly destroyed by French forces that the citizens simply left.

This quaint Italian town keeps losing ground as the sides of its plateau slowly erode.

Filled with goldfish swimming in a shallow pool of sea water, this ancient crypt is more wishing well than burial site.

The plague quarantine island home to the alleged "Vampire of Venice."

Venice's island of the dead.

Hidden beneath the famous St. Peter's Basilica is a veritable city of the dead that may hold the remains of St. Peter himself.

Virgil's many-mouthed gateway to the underworld.

Pilgrimage site for star-crossed lovers.

Medieval town turned hippie commune, once home to the secret foreskin of Jesus Christ.

This immaculate and historic water garden culminates in a massive stone dining table with an inset fountain for chilling the wine of the Cardinal's guests.

Giant, pink stuffed rabbit on an Italian mountain.

Sitting on an Italian hilltop is this surreal fortress built by the mad inventor of electrohomeopathy.

An Italian hillside ghost town.

According to the local folklore, the myriad colors of this lake are the result of a lovelorn wizard's blunder.

Abandoned medieval hill town.

Ruins of a 10th century church tucked away deep in a botanical garden.

The glowing blue Nymphaeum of Emperor Tiberius.

Hidden in an Italian forest is a completely homemade amusement park that has taken a lifetime to create.