Venice's "Island of the Mad."

The middle finger of modernity.

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

Romans built the world's tallest artificial waterfall in 271 BC.

The remains of a town so thoroughly destroyed by French forces that the citizens simply left.

This abandoned Brutalist treehouse is a hidden architectural relic.

More sculpture than building, this architecturally significant temple was built on the spot of Saint Peter's crucifixion.

A jaw-dropping "megalibrary" that turns book-browsing into a geometric adventure.

This crumbling Art Deco movie palace in Mexico City has been abandoned for two decades.

This emotive sculpture was originally created for the 1878 World's Fair.

The final resting place of the "father of special effects."

Noirish green neon marks the location of one of the oldest private detective agencies in France.

"In the Dark" Restaurant in Paris offers dinner in complete darkness.

This Parisian café sticks almost exclusively to an ethos of reuse.

A favorite Paris bar for U.S. expats, including Gershwin, Hemingway, and James Bond.

A museum of carnival attractions where you are invited to ride the rides.

A museum dedicated Germany's favorite drink and most well-known festival.

The taxidermy remains of the first brown bear to enter Germany in 170 years.

This airport currywurst stand is made out of retro airplane parts.

A giant snail sculpture looking longingly at the German traffic museum.

The scars of World War II are preserved on its walls.

This century-old cinema house has a marquee that has been hand painted by a single man for over 25 years.

The bright red cars take travelers through breathtaking Tuscan scenery.

A detailed pachyderm supports Rome's smallest Egyptian obelisk.