This concrete tangle of square pipes has stood as a proud thorn in the city's side since the '70s.

A man-made island in scenic San Francisco Bay.

Julia Morgan's Moorish-Gothic labyrinth of fountains, trees, natural light and Oakland's notable dead.

This Oakland fairytale kingdom, fiercely devoted to childlike whimsy, was an early inspiration for Disneyland.

Bonsai garden in Oakland is curated by the first non-Japanese female bonsai master in the United States.

With statues of Nelson Mandela and Harvey Milk this monument has been called the Mount Rushmore of California.

This restaurant features Native American foods from across the country.

Antiques by the Bay.

A decommissioned Naval base now rents itself out for people who want to blow stuff up.

After serving in World War II and picking up Apollo astronauts, this aircraft carrier has been turned into a museum overlooking the San Francisco Bay.

Playable, historic pinball machines fill this Alameda museum.

This (occupied) house is 10 feet wide and full of spite.

A large grotto built in the 16th century amidst Florence's famous Boboli gardens.

Overlooked amid the tourist bustle of Florence, this museum is dedicated to the craft of stone inlay.

The doodles of a genius line the walls of a secret room under the Medici Chapel, where they were hidden for nearly 500 years.

Renaissance hospital featuring a rotating door into which unwanted babies were dropped.

Go inside to really appreciate this 500-year-old technological masterpiece.

This community on a small Venetian island has taken to painting their houses in bright neon hues.

Art and armour fill every inch of this rich kid's Italian villa.

Many famous English poets including Elizabeth Barrett Browning are laid to rest at this Swiss-owned cemetery in Florence.

A plaque on the base of this statue holds a bewitching design.

Some say this medieval church is where the poet Dante married his wife and also met the love of his life.

A medieval weapon rumored to have been used by the brilliant poet himself.

The largest and most famous wax anatomical collection anywhere in the world.