Places Michael Woodruff Wants to Go

One of seven Jewish catacombs in Rome and one of only two open to the public.

A magnificent waterfall is also home to the remains of a Roman hydraulic engineering system.

An abandoned Roman salami factory has found new life as an art space home to 200 squatters.

Inside this McDonald's you can dine on your Big Mac and fries next to a 2,500-year-old Roman wall.

The Pope’s secret escape route.

One of several skulls claiming to belong to the beheaded St. John the Baptist is on display at this Roman church.

One of the most important yet well-hidden museums dedicated to the history of medicine.

The martyr's wax-enhanced skeletal remains lie preserved in a glass case in the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.

A collection of objects supposedly singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.

This ritzy Italian market is built around a statue of an unforgiven heretic who was burned for his belief in an endless universe.

The only "Egyptian" pyramid in Europe and the legendary tomb of Remus.

The skull of the patron saint of lovers lies in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin—maybe.

An alchemist's “magic door” stands in the middle of a Roman park.

The yawning maw of this pagan visage is said to bite off the hands of liars.

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

Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.

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

The crypts of Capuchin friars decorated with the bones of over 4,000 friars, including an entire "crypt of pelvises."

The short hike is worth the stunning views and crystal blue waters of a secluded beach.

This limestone cave offers an incredible view of the Río Grande de Arecibo valley.

The crumbling remnants of this 19th-century quarantine hospital hint at the touristy island's darker past.

Years of neglect and nature took a toll on this 19th-century lighthouse.

This bleach-white graveyard overlooking the ocean is accessed through a tunnel.

Everyone from Alan Ginsberg to The Rolling Stones has stopped by this classic dive bar.