A small villa said to have inspired the design of the court jester at the heart of Giuseppe Verdi's 1851 opera.

A young Italian couple has been locked in an embrace for over 6,000 years.

It took more than 300 years to build this church, which is home to two sacred vessels believed to hold the blood of Christ.

The oldest church in Mantua was buried for centuries under the facades of other structures.

A room filled with frescos that make it seem like the walls are crumbling down while giants die in despair.

In this medieval church, a centuries-old stuffed crocodile hangs from the ceiling.

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

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

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

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

The remains of this 2nd-century Roman temple are incorporated into a modern building.

This hidden Art Nouveau courtyard is an opulent feast for the eyes.

This beautiful park on the outskirts of Rome protects the ruins of two colossal ancient aqueducts.