This 6th-century church has the largest and best-preserved collection of Byzantine mosaics outside Constantinople.

An unusual "skull with ears" sits in the crypt of this small church tucked away at the end of a narrow alley.

Take a giant yellow bird cage to the top of Elba's highest mountain.

A secret hatch containing two parchments was discovered in this statue over 40 years after its installation.

This serene, turquoise lake in an extraordinary nature reserve showcases a rare natural phenomenon.

A semi-abandoned village destroyed by U.S. bombings during World War II dominates the valley of Turano.

An abandoned 17th-century baroque hunting lodge with a wonderfully strange architectural plan.

This Roman statue is missing a limb from when the Venetians stole it from Constantinople during the Crusades.

Also known as the Square Colosseum, this building is a prime example of fascist-era rationalist architecture.

This Italian stadium makes liberal use of fascist statuary to evoke classical sporting arenas.

The only visible reminders of an elaborate engineering project that kept the tower from reaching the tipping point.

This ancient trail climbs the mountain where a Latin League cult worshipped Jupiter, its main deity.

Remnants of a 4th-century church with vivid medieval frescoes and ancient sarcophagi hide beneath this old basilica.

Amalfi's pre-industrial history is slowly being engulfed by the lush vegetation of the Ferriere Valley.

A whale rib was used to advertise the store by the arch that offered exotic goods from far away.

A petite white lighthouse perched on the ancient core of Stromboli Volcano.

A wunderkammer of curious objects and intriguing art nestled within a hub of ancient Roman sites.

A beautifully well-preserved ancient Roman villa.

The only museum with its curator—and her pets—buried inside.

Fountain where visitors can earn a license to be mad.

This subterranean shrine beneath a bike rental store celebrates the iconic Italian scooter.

This park on the outskirts of Rome boasts two ancient Roman aqueducts and a medieval tower.

A detailed pachyderm supports Rome's smallest Egyptian obelisk.

One of Catholicism's four major basilicas has a series of papal portraits that are said to predict the end of the world.