Pilgrimage site for star-crossed lovers.

The Pope’s secret escape route.

One of several skulls claiming to belong to the beheaded St. John the Baptist is on display at this Roman church.

This palatial spiral staircase was so unusual the name "snail" was given to the noble family who built it.

These "anatomical machines" are only one of the many strange items in this Italian crypt.

This sword isn't waiting for a king to pull it out. It was placed there by a saint.

Crushed coral and crystals give the sand its signature coloration.

A collection of objects supposedly singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.

Go inside to really appreciate this 500-year-old technological masterpiece.

Over 50 exquisite hand-painted Renaissance maps decorate a Medici storage room.

The once forbidden "secret cabinet" of erotic art from excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

This enchanting 600-year-old tree is so magical it inspired the beloved tale of Pinocchio.

A labyrinth of ancient tunnels hidden below the city holds the ruins of 2,500 years of history.

A fairy tale castle in modern Rome.

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

Jesus' footprints and the first catacombs in the world.

The glowing blue Nymphaeum of Emperor Tiberius.

Venice's "Island of the Mad."

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

Geothermal waterfalls in Tuscany.

The engineering wonder and pleasure dome of a much-maligned emperor still holds undiscovered secrets.

The final resting place of the poets Shelley and Keats.

As can be expected from a centuries old church built in a canal city, the undercroft of this house of worship is beautifully flooded.

A large grotto built in the 16th century amidst Florence's famous Boboli gardens.