A king's pet, a pope's gift, an artist's inspiration, and a tragic shipwreck.

This unreal Portuguese palace looks as though it's made from a pile of different castles.

This eccentrically decorated palace is replete with grottoes, fountains, tunnels, and caves.

This cheerfully-named branch of the Chicago River is the fetid result of years of blood, entrails, and meatpacking waste.

Once called the "Polish Gold Coast" it is an icon of the neighborhood that bears its same name.

Illegal drag racing two stories beneath Chicago’s streets.

This urban drawbridge gained eternal pop culture fame when the Blues Brothers jumped it while it was raised.

A hot dog stand where the heads are just as hot as the dogs.

The twin towers in this Chicago fountain use 50 foot tall video screens to spit on people.

Chicago's museum dedicated to the history of bondage and fetishism is more textbook than titillation.

A gothic church spire sits atop this skyscraper, the tallest church in the world.

A once-booming Mississippi River town with a history of racial violence is now eerie and mostly abandoned.

A Bibliophile's Dream.

Beloved bar home to musicians of all eras and reputations.

This historic hotel invented the chocolate brownie.

This whimsical Oz-themed park had a wonderful impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

The famed amusement district marks the beginning of summer with a wild procession of nautical creatures.

This outdoor gallery of graffiti-covered walls pays homage to the past, present, and possible future of street art.

An oasis of calm amid the chaos of the boardwalk, the museum traces the heritage of this beloved beachside amusement park.

One of the most enjoyable bits of history at Coney Island and “the most romantic ride in the world.”

These secluded and abandoned anti-aircraft defenses have become one the most scenic viewpoints in Barcelona.

Gaudí's famously flamboyant architectural style is on full display in this sprawling park and garden.

This semi-secret storybook hedge maze is also the oldest garden in the city.

One of Antoni Gaudí's most classic buildings is well-known for its "dragon-back" design.