A sunken idol welcomes parishioners to Davy Jones' Locker.

A fairytale island floats in the middle of Italy's little-known Lake Orta.

Crushed coral and crystals give the sand its signature coloration.

Pilgrimage site for star-crossed lovers.

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

Five candy-colored villages on the Italian Riviera.

An Italian hillside ghost town.

The glowing blue Nymphaeum of Emperor Tiberius.

The doodles of a genius line the walls of a secret room under the Medici Chapel, where they were hidden for nearly 500 years.

Geothermal waterfalls in Tuscany.

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

Stalactites and stalagmites in a beautifully lit cave.

This community on a small Venetian island has taken to painting their houses in bright neon hues.

A submerged archeological park still holds the wonders of a Roman Sodom.

This Venice bookstore has resigned itself to constant flooding by keeping its books in bathtubs and boats.

A 16th-century horror show built in a lovely Italian garden.

This secret coastal village is studded with pastel-colored houses all piled on top of one another.

The Cycladic architecture makes this Athens neighborhood feel like an island paradise hidden in the shadow of the Acropolis.

This remarkable cave was discovered after a shepherd watched bees enter and exit through a small fissure.

A spectacular cave and a beguiling lake.

The largest Art Nouveau complex in the world is a Barcelona hospital with a 600-year-long history.

Construction of Barcelona's iconic (but controversial) church is expected to be completed in 2026—a century after the death of its architect.

One of Antoni Gaudí's most classic buildings is well-known for its "dragon-back" design.

These secluded and abandoned anti-aircraft defenses have become one the most scenic viewpoints in Barcelona.