A large statue of Pope Gregory XIII in Bologna was disguised as Saint Petronius to avoid destruction.

Legend has it this fountain built to symbolize the Pope’s power hides a strange secret concerning Neptune's manliness.

Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the Middle Ages, but only 22 survive.

A small window on Via Piella offers a lovely and rare peek at Bologna's lost canals.

This building features dozens of faces along its facade, although one is a bit chilling.

A striking memorial recalls thousands of Bolognese men and women killed fighting fascists in World War II.

The only Shinto shrine in Europe that has been officially sanctioned by Japan.

The smaller of the three towers of San Marino is a former prison inaccessible from the ground level.

Drink wine handed out through a window as part of an age-old tradition.

This bronze boar's snout has been rubbed to a golden sheen by visitors seeking good fortune.

What appears to be an ancient Roman temple is actually a Catholic church.

A dead saint, a deadly poison, and a mysterious holy ooze.

Southern Italy's spinning top village.

This bustling Italian plaza is built on the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater.

A stunning medieval castle houses this eclectic, interactive tribute to all things wine.

Breathtaking and huge 430 year old maps of Italy.

Historic fortifications form the boundary of Vatican City, but it’s not entirely surrounded by walls.

This ritzy Italian market is built around a statue of an unforgiven heretic who was burned for his belief in an endless universe.

One man's quest to fix his toilet unearthed over 5,000 artifacts spanning more than 2,000 years of history.

A long-buried ancient ruin unearthed right in the middle of the city.

People have been living in the cave houses on this Italian hillside since the Neolithic era.

Skulls and skeletons are omnipresent in this church dedicated to souls trapped in purgatory.

Erotic art covers the walls of the largest ancient pleasure palace.

This triumphal 16th-century arched gateway leads to the oldest street in Palermo.