A medieval stronghold rising over the ruins of ancient Roman villas along Rome's southern coast.

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

One of the largest caves in the world open to the public.

This beautiful 14th-century castle perched on a promontory overlooks the Bay of Trieste.

Wall after wall of this French seaside neighborhood is intricately decorated with seashells and corals.

A castle-like sea fort from the 17th century is now a museum to oyster farming.

The largest underground church in Europe.

Bordered by forest on three sides and the ocean on the other, the Great Dune of Pilat is the highest sand dune in Europe.

A well-preserved medieval village nested on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by a network of cliffs, natural bridges and canyons.

A fortress off the West coast of Portugal that dates back to 1502.

This museum documents the ancient practice of salt production in Figueira da Foz.

Europe's oldest still-operational tea farm also boasts a spectacular view.

A 19th-century mansion houses the largest collection of gin in the European Union.

This fairy-tale, neo-Gothic church in the Azores is a world of magical realism.

Rainwater transformed this old quarry into a peaceful pond you won't find in most tourist books.

The world's oldest bookshop still in operation.

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

Portugal's National Pantheon has a history of curses, collapses and financial problems.

The best place in the world to buy tinned fish.

This charming candle shop has been in business since 1789.

Elaborately carved to showcase the glorious wealth that the age of exploration brought to the Portuguese empire.

In Portugal, a secluded stretch of untouched natural beauty hides at the bottom of a steep hill.

Perhaps the most spectacular grotto along the Algarve coastline.

A forgotten "city of water" underneath the famous Trevi district.