The remains of the last Gonzaga villa, a luxurious palace built in spite of an economic crisis.

Two planes stand abandoned after the closure of an aircraft-themed restaurant.

In a tower at this centuries-old castle, members of a noble family were imprisoned and left to starve.

Nearly 800 years old, this river lock is now a public park with a former fortified island.

The skull of this patron saint is kept in a shrine located in his hometown.

One of the largest squares in Europe contains an entire artificial island.

A medieval tower with a suspended iron cage used as an open-air jail for criminals who were exposed as a warning.

The seat of the Mantua bishop holds many secrets within its walls.

A large statue of Pope Gregory XIII in Bologna was disguised as Saint Petronius to avoid destruction.

A floating bridge leaning on barges allows pedestrians to reach the historical center.

Time has been frozen at this station since the bombing in 1980—or so it was believed.

This war memorial holds the remains of around 20,000 World War I soldiers from both sides of the conflict.

A medieval castle was used for centuries as a hemp farm.

One of the oldest and most significant collections of Ancient Egyptian archeology outside of Egypt.

Once the hunting reserve of a noble family, this is one of the few remnants of Pleistocene planitial forest in northern Italy that still stands.

Three underground crypts and a pointed arch under the bell tower make this cathedral unique among Romanesque churches.

A hidden bas-relief of a hare on a church main portal that brings good luck to the ones who find it.

In this medieval church, a centuries-old stuffed crocodile hangs from the ceiling.

In Lago Superiore, the largest expanse of lotus flowers outside of Asia is hard to miss.

Stuck in the arcade of Casa Isolani are three arrows of mysterious origins.

This Renaissance palace features a unique architectural design and is now home to the Ferrara National Art Gallery.

In this museum, visitors are invited to touch the art.

If you ever wanted to touch a medieval mercenary’s three testicles, look no further.

One of the tallest bell towers in Italy plays a particular melody at just two times each day.