marciaserioblackwell's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Madrid, Spain

Templo de Debod

An ancient Egyptian temple in the middle of Madrid, Spain.
Madrid, Spain

'Witches' Sabbath (The Great He-Goat)'

This macabre masterpiece of a mural is one of Francisco Goya's "Black Paintings."
Portsmouth, England

Spinnaker Tower

This striking observation tower shaped like a spinnaker sail is the newest icon in historic Portsmouth.
Lyndhurst, England

Lyndhurst War Memorial

The famous Alice Liddell designed this memorial after losing her sons in World War I.
Seaview, England

No Man's Land

This foolish Victorian sea fort was converted to a deluxe hotel.
Dorset, England

Old Harry Rocks

65 million-year-old chalk outcroppings mark the end of the Jurassic Coast.
Dorset, England

The Scout Stone

This commemorative stone was erected near the first Scout campsite.
Falmouth, England

St. Nazaire Raid Memorial

This modest site memorializes a World War II mission described without hyperbole as “the greatest raid of all.”
New Paltz, New York

Mohonk Testimonial Gateway

This stone gatehouse was once the entrance to a historic mountain resort, and it had a cameo in a cheesy cult horror movie.
Madrid, Spain

Automatons of the Goyesque Carillon

This piece of early engineering is rather unknown despite its location in the heart of Madrid.
Madrid, Spain

Perro Paco

A statue commemorating a beloved stray dog who was adopted by the entire neighborhood where he lived.
Madrid, Spain

El Oso y el Madroño (The Bear and the Strawberry Tree)

This sweet-toothed bear searching for snacks has been a symbol of Madrid for decades.
Madrid, Spain

Tío Pepe Sign

For decades, Puerta del Sol has been illuminated by a giant, guitar-wielding bottle of sherry.
Madrid, Spain

Sobrino de Botin

The oldest restaurant in the world is this old-world Spanish eatery, still known for its suckling pig.
Madrid, Spain

Salt Street Watchmaker

An automaton perched above an classic clock and watch store
Madrid, Spain

The Still Automatons of Teatro Albéniz

Automatons that were once removed after one fell from the building.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Botafumeiro

This enormous censer uses a pulley system installed over 400 years ago.
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Bench of Whispers

Thanks to an acoustic anomaly, this unassuming stone bench has heard one hundred years of secrets.
Gijón, Spain

Árbol de la Sidra

Made up of 3,200 recycled glass bottles, this tree pays homage to Asturia's love of cider.
Saint-Pol-de-Léon, France

Les Étagères de la Nuit (Shelves of the Night)

Each of these hand-painted wooden boxes, which date to between the 16th and 19th centuries, contains a genuine human skull.
Saint-Malo, France

The Maison du Québec

In France, a medieval-style home pays homage to an intrepid explorer who discovered Québec.
Saint Peter Port, Guernsey

Castle Cornet

An 800-year-old island castle in Guernsey's main harbor.
Krakow, Poland

Statue of Jan Matejko

Extremely famous in his native country, this Cracovian painter is all but unknown beyond Polish borders.
Krakow, Poland

The Bones of the Wawel Dragon

Real bones which are said to have belonged to a Polish dragon.