A mysterious chasm in the heart of the ancient Roman Forum, the Lacus Curtius was once believed to be a gateway to hell.

A sunken idol welcomes parishioners to Davy Jones' Locker.

The location of the last witch trials of Italy, known as "The Salem of Europe."

Natural cathedral designed by Italian artist Giuliano Mauri.

This giant middle finger statue sends an unambiguous message to Italy's bankers.

A labyrinth of ancient tunnels hidden below the city holds the ruins of 2,500 years of history.

Five candy-colored villages on the Italian Riviera.

An ossuary built in 1210 to collect bones from the Ospedale Maggiore of Milan.

The last moments of the ill-fated Pompeiians, frozen forever in plaster.

Venice's "Island of the Mad."

Thousands of well-dressed mummies below a monastery.

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

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

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