A church that bred legends, and served as an inspiration for the Da Vinci Code.

This cannonball embedded in the side of an Edinburgh house once served a surprisingly pedestrian purpose.

Poetic, metallic giraffes adorn a square off an Edinburgh thoroughfare.

Anonymously sculpted and donated, these sculptures made from poetry books and pages are sprinkled around the city.

The fountain marks the area where hundreds of accused witches were burned at the stake.

The dance of this huge clock is a magnificent and eerie commentary on good and evil in the history of humankind.

This early version of the guillotine was used to execute the man responsible for its construction.

Remnants of the 16th-century defensive wall still stand unassumingly within Edinburgh.

The tomb of one of Scotland's bloody historic villains is a magnet for bumbling desecrators.

Protecting the dead from opportunistic body snatchers.

These steps offer a breathtaking view of one of Europe's most besieged fortresses.

A labyrinthine network of chambers with a storied past hides below Edinburgh's South Bridge.

The taxidermy remains of the first mammal ever cloned from an adult cell are on display in Edinburgh.

This iconic 1,000-year-old medieval castle is a favorite of the film industry, most notably as the location for Hogwarts in Harry Potter.

This tidal island, a sacred site in early English Christianity, was the target of a notable Viking invasion.

A British plaque explains that a house was built using the spoils of the first international golf bet.

A quartet of brightly colored mythical beasts stand sentry at this gateway.

An ornate "graveyard" for some of the country's forlorn building relics.

This Scottish graveyard is the final resting place of the man who inspired the character Ebenezer Scrooge.

This extinct volcano rises above Edinburgh and is special for its panoramic views over the city.

Now home to a drinking establishment, this building has a macabre history.

Sprawled across the Great Hall ceiling are various constellations and images relating to the zodiac.

This 16th-century house tells the city's history through old artifacts and quirky tales.

A verdant 17th-century-style garden hidden along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.