A fairy tale castle in modern Rome.

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

The skull of the patron saint of lovers lies in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin—maybe.

This historic recreationist school churns out warriors that may very well have had a fighting chance in Rome's pits of the day.

One of seven Jewish catacombs in Rome and one of only two open to the public.

The final resting place of the poets Shelley and Keats.

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

At the crypt of St. Mary of Eulogies and the Dead you are left alone to ponder mortality among piles of skulls.

The only "Egyptian" pyramid in Europe and the legendary tomb of Remus.

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

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

The yawning maw of this pagan visage is said to bite off the hands of liars.

An alchemist's "magic door" stands in the middle of a Roman park.

Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.

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

Bioluminescent firefly squid light up this Japanese fishing port.

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