This grisly effigy displays an early Christian martyr who was skinned alive and beheaded.

A massive marble foot is tucked away in a small alley near the Pantheon.

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

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

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

This small, ancient Roman temple was once a church dedicated to the patron saint of penitents.

St. Francesca Romana, patron saint of drivers, resides in the church she founded.

Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the Middle Ages, but only 22 survive.

A small window on Via Piella offers a lovely and rare peek at Bologna's lost canals.

A detailed pachyderm supports Rome's smallest Egyptian obelisk.

This gallery commissioned by Cardinal Spada is known for its magnificent optical illusion.

The ruins of the largest gladiatorial school in Rome are largely hidden under modern streets.

This is the oldest Roman-made bridge in the city still existing in its original state.

Erotic art covers the walls of the largest ancient pleasure palace.

This hydrochronometer was invented by a Dominican monk and is a prime feature in this garden.

This picturesque Umbrian city has a subterranean side that has long remained hidden.

Ancient snack bar of the Roman Empire re-opened.

The world's most active stratovolcano is almost always erupting.

Milan's duomo is covered in beautiful carving including a curious "dinosaur-like" beast.

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

This curious, round temple is the oldest still-standing marble building in Rome.

Medieval town turned hippie commune, once home to the secret foreskin of Jesus Christ.

The "Great Sewer" of ancient Rome is one of the oldest sewer systems in the world, and is still in use.

This ancient market is often referred to as the oldest shopping mall in the world.