A king's pet, a pope's gift, an artist's inspiration, and a tragic shipwreck.

Legacy of the earthquake that nearly wiped Lisbon off the face of the Earth.

A Gothic cathedral created from volcanic rocks.

A self-built mosaic house and sculpture park.

This 1,300 year old monastery built atop a single rock was once only accessible depending on the whims of the tide.

Two small chapels housed inside an ancient tree.

This fairytale castle was built as a show of power but was nearly torn down thanks to its history of torture.

Sitting in the basement of a castle, the largest wine barrel in the world is bigger than most apartments.

There has been an astronomical clock on this spot since the 14th century.

Amöneburg is a town perched on top of a basalt mountain in the middle of an ancient meteor crater.

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.

A 16th-century horror show built in a lovely Italian garden.

Water and windows define this defensive Italian well.

A mushroom-shaped outcropping that has come to be the symbol for an entire town.

The last moments of the ill-fated Pompeiians, frozen forever in plaster.

Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.

Rome's semi-secret peephole vista is also a former Crusader stronghold.

The crypts of Capuchin friars decorated with the bones of over 4,000 friars, including an entire "crypt of pelvises."

A master of trompe-l'oeil creates a stunning, tourist-fooling dome out of a flat ceiling.

A darkly erotic open-air statuary in Catalonia.

Wonderland replication in progress by one persistent man.

This 15th century pharmacy displays a beautiful collection of ancient medicine jars.

Village situated on a narrow volcanic escarpment.

This ancient Spanish castle sits high upon a hilltop.