Sitting on an Italian hilltop is this surreal fortress built by the mad inventor of electrohomeopathy.

This domed temple was built in a hidden cave mouth as a refuge for sinners seeking absolution.

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

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

This winding road through an Italian canyon may be the most scenic drive in the world.

According to the local folklore, the myriad colors of this lake are the result of a lovelorn wizard's blunder.

On rare days, this abandoned castle's gatekeepers open its doors, revealing the eye-popping splendor hidden inside.

This 16th-century monastery has been turned into a surrealist architecture compound.

A 1,000-year-old church holds the bones of the Christian martyrs who died hiding inside it.

In a city that boasts four separate inclined cable railways, this is one of the busiest funicular lines in the world.

Take a giant yellow bird cage to the top of Elba's highest mountain.

A factory director designed what was the world's longest suspension footbridge in 1923 so his employees could get to work safely.

An archaeological treasure trove towers over the valley of Chiavenna.

A medieval fountain lined with 99 unique stone faces whose origins and meaning remain unknown.

This curious building hides eclectic details like medieval gargoyles alongside naked angels and Art Nouveau mosaics.

The Sighignola summit on the Swiss border offers views so breathtaking it's been named one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

The bright red cars take travelers through breathtaking Tuscan scenery.

This mosaic-lined medieval church was built by the world's first admiral and still holds mass in ancient Greek.

The second-highest village in Lazio has attracted artists for 400 years and is now a spectacular open-air art gallery.

This monastery built into a cliff hides a perfectly preserved hermit in a glass coffin.

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

Crossing this suspension bridge feels like walking through the sky, a fitting tribute to the head of the Apollo program.

The world's largest bamboo labyrinth is a living demonstration of the plant’s immense potential.

A small Byzantine church lost in the middle of the mountains of southern Italy.