Ruins of a German Castle on top of a towering stone pillar.

This jaw-dropping 19th-century bridge uses its reflection to form what appears to be a perfect circle.

A surreal botanical garden with an even more surreal tour guide.

South of Bologna, a limestone grotto with a protruding waterfall and a floor full of cave pearls.

Every Easter, a small Sicilian town builds a stunning cathedral out of bread.

Greenery covers the face of a gently-dripping waterfall deep in the mountains of central Sardinia.

Packed with geological formations, an ancient river, and taxidermied seals, this overlooked coastal cave system is worth a spelunk.

The skull of this patron saint is kept in a shrine located in his hometown.

A prehistoric route that has claimed many victims is now closed to traffic.

Turtles swim in a pond surrounding a classical temple in this lush park in Vicenza.

Nobles would stage mock naval battles on this large lake at the Royal Palace of Caserta.

Once the hunting reserve of a noble family, this is one of the few remnants of Pleistocene planitial forest in northern Italy that still stands.

This weird, elephant-shaped rock also hosts two ancient tombs.

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

This crystal clear water basin feeds the Lao river and powers a hydroelectric power plant.

These elaborate gothic monuments honor Verona's medieval lords.

The sacristy of this church contains remains and relics of members of the Aragonese royal family.

Knights Templar are visible inside this stunning Cistercian abbey.

The walls of this tiny Italian church are entirely covered with frescoes.

Although their purpose is unknown, these ancient Roman supporting arches showcase Hellenistic ingenuity.

An enormous sinkhole that local lore attributes to the anger of the Virgin Mary.

This medieval settlement was abandoned after a series of landslides. What remained was largely destroyed during a mock battle for a WWII film reel.

One of the four sanctuaries of Rieti's Holy Valley was the site of the first living nativity scene.

This lake was sacred to the Sabine people who constructed a temple here on a floating island.