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

The ruins of this gorgeous clifftop castle look like something from a fantasy novel.

The oldest church in Mantua was buried for centuries under the facades of other structures.

It took more than 300 years to build this church, which is home to two sacred vessels believed to hold the blood of Christ.

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

The only museum with its curator—and her pets—buried inside.

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

No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics.

Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show.

Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air.

The world’s largest work of glass art hides in this stunning Taiwanese subway station.

This massive complex is made up of hundreds of smaller temples that date back to the ninth century.

A Viking-style brewpub named for a Norse sea giant, in the heart of fjord country.

One of the most breathtaking railways in Europe also takes one of the steepest climbs, from fjord to mountain plateau.

A brutalist gem towering over the heart of Milan.

This gallery commissioned by Cardinal Spada is known for its magnificent optical illusion.

This hill made entirely of ancient Roman jars was simply a garbage dump to the people of the time.

Ancient snack bar of the Roman Empire re-opened.

Erotic art covers the walls of the largest ancient pleasure palace.

The last moments of the ill-fated Pompeiians, frozen forever in plaster.

Giant, friendly pelicans in Central London, the most unlikely of places.

A massive Montreal stadium that has seen nothing but trouble since its inception.

This hidden Art Nouveau courtyard is an opulent feast for the eyes.

Architectural monsters are devouring this palace's every door and window.