A cave dwelling that was started by the Celts, expanded by monks, and finished by knights.

A Gothic cathedral created from volcanic rocks.

By night, this auto repair shop turns into a taquería serving up some of the city's finest al pastor tacos.

This surprising gem is a world-class archeological museum hidden at the University of Chicago.

A Bibliophile's Dream.

The tomb of the mythological founder of Padua is not hidden in some obscure crypt, but stands right in the middle of the city square.

This old medieval prison tower has been a site of astronomical research for more than 250 years.

The towering Pinocchio stands 63 feet tall in the Italian village his creator frequented as a child.

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

This breathtaking monastery was established by Saint Benedict himself 1,500 years ago.

The forbidden island of the Tuscan Archipelago may still contain buried treasure.

Ham is serious business at the Prosciutto Museum-Serious, delicious business.

A fairytale-like medieval church perched atop a rocky cliff on Italy's "Coast of the Gods."

A lover's walk between hilltop towns, decorated with graffiti love notes.

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

This centuries-old Italian chapel hangs midway down a sheer cliffside.

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

The world is full of swimming holes, but few compare to Samoa’s idyllic To Sua ocean trench.