Venice's "Island of the Mad."

An enigmatic modern marker left next to a historic Roman site.

Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

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

Caligula's colossal pleasure ships, discovered by Mussolini only to be lost in flames.

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

Roman-era ships unearthed...

A secret hatch containing two parchments was discovered in this statue over 40 years after its installation.

An Italian ghost town that fought obscurity, until a mysterious illness brought it to its knees.

Rome's ancient Etruscan rival, now a park full of ruins.

An abandoned Roman salami factory has found new life as an art space home to 200 squatters.

This Italian stadium makes liberal use of fascist statuary to evoke classical sporting arenas.

One of seven Jewish catacombs in Rome and one of only two open to the public.

This historic recreationist school churns out warriors that may very well have had a fighting chance in Rome's pits of the day.

If you want to talk to the Pope you will have to stare down this surreal vision of Jesus rising from a nuclear hell.

2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.

Gods clash with machines in a power plant regenerated as a museum.

Ever hear of the Milazzo Cage?

This hill made entirely of ancient Roman jars was simply a garbage dump to the people of the time.

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

The underground sanctuary of a mysterious ancient cult.

This ancient Roman prison is decorated with an upside-down cross not as blasphemy but as saintly tribute.

An alchemist's "magic door" stands in the middle of a Roman park.

Architectural monsters are devouring this palace's every door and window.