Places Catherina Picolini Wants to Go

An otherworldly alpine pasture in Slovenia with historical ties to WWII and architecture that recalls Middle Earth.

Dioramas and animatronics lead you through the story of Bhagavad-gita, the Indian literary classic.

A neo-Gothic castle in the Argentinian countryside.

Stenciled handprints and wall paintings dating back 10,000 years, some of the earliest forms of cave art.

This elaborately decorated, fairytale-like Romanian royal palace is one of the most striking castles in Europe.

This backwater graveyard in the Hamptons became a trendy burial spot and posthumous status symbol for famous artists.

People have been living in the cave houses on this Italian hillside since the Neolithic era.

Tucked away in the Leiden city hall are a group of works by famed artist MC Escher.

The attic of a four-century-old canal house hides a clandestine church.

Temples adorned with intricate, erotic sculptures make up one of the "seven wonders" of India.

Giant marble phalluses on the sacred island of antiquity.

It’s not hard to see why the historic Peabody Conservatory of Music’s library has been described as a “cathedral of books.”

The final resting place of the tragic king and queen of the Jazz Age is tucked away in a small Maryland graveyard.

Colorful and chaotic stacked hotel in North Holland.

This Russian religious complex is a Frankenstein's chapel that includes influence from almost all the major faiths.

Climb to the top of the world's largest seated bronze Buddha.

A popular shrine where the Blessed Virgin allegedly appeared in 1830, displaying a holy armchair and two incorruptible remains of Lady Saints.

The divine septet of Japanese fortune gods are rendered in 1,000-year-old wood at this peaceful site.

A roadside shrine to a late rock god only remains thanks to the unyielding efforts of his fans.

400-year-old garden, restored to beauty.

The quintessential Japanese rock garden has existed for more than 500 years.

The headquarters of a secretive order is also a beautifully-designed park.

One of the oldest and certainly best preserved Cistercian abbeys still in existence.

One of the few remaining casualties of the London Blitz, this destroyed church has become an enchanting public garden.