Places meekskalen Wants to Go

A curious collection dedicated to human and animal anatomy and pathology.

This gorgeous reading room houses the oldest and largest art history library in the Netherlands.

Rome’s legendary peephole vista is also a former Crusader stronghold.

A master of trompe-l'oeil creates a stunning, tourist-fooling dome out of a flat ceiling.

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

Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

This art gallery and oddities boutique bewitches visitors with a trove of occult trinkets and eccentric antiques, work by an ever-changing roster of underground artists, and classes in tarot and other mystic arts.

This awkward aquarium sculpture is one of the strangest statues in Chicago.

An antiquated German apothecary on Chicago's North Side.

This crucial gathering spot along the "hippie trail" still displays old notes between traveling beatniks and backpackers.

Turkish adventurer antiques in the heart of the Grand Bazaar.

1513 Turkish world map, full of European state secrets and snarky commentary.

This remarkably well-preserved Egyptian plinth is pretty well traveled for a giant piece of stone.

A small etching on the white marble parapet was written in runic script by a Viking mercenary.

A meow-velous tribute to a beloved street cat, made famous on the internet.

Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the Middle Ages, but only 22 survive.

The remains of an ancient Roman city are hidden underneath Bologna's beautiful public library.

In the world's oldest university is a stunning 17th century anatomical theater carved from spruce.

An extraordinary collection of 18th century anatomical waxworks.

A small window on Via Piella offers a lovely and rare peek at Bologna's lost canals.

A marvel of Byzantine engineering under the streets of Istanbul.

The ornate miniature mansions were built for Istanbul's feathered residents.

Catch raucous live performances of traditional tunes at this old-school taverna.

The Lobotesis family has been baking some of the best savory pies in Athens since 1910.