Places Edited by Samir S. Patel

You can only access this hermitage by crawling under a ledge suspended above an overhang.

A tiny town hall—in Sweden's one-time capital—might be the smallest in Europe.

It may seem a little out of place in a tiny village, but the inspiring story of its creation made headlines.

A local remembrance for lives lost—a poppy for each—in war more than 100 years ago.

A plaque on a rock dedicated to a famous, forgotten author, and put in an impossible place.

Although it has never been a secret ninja base, this shrine still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve.

The largest privately owned statue of Buddha in Japan, built by a total amateur, with an unconventional look.

A popular oddity on display in a stately building, offering a symbolic commentary.

A quirky mausoleum celebrated once every five years with young dancing girls, widows, a tax man, and more.

This memorial includes fragments from one of the greatest tragedies in United States history.

Stunningly detailed mosaics in a New York subway station bring life to the Weimaraners of artist William Wegman's work—and to thousands of commutes.

A strange-looking 18th-century tower sits on a tiny islet just off Livorno.

The base for the battle against the smugglers of Islandmagee.

The beloved, war-tested mascot of a Union regiment graces their battlefield monument.

Veryovkina Cave is more than 1.3 miles deep—the deepest known in the world.

This historical village takes you back to the 19th century.

According to a local legend, this bridge was constructed by an astrologer with the help of the devil.

Mysterious stone faces line a hidden path great for seeing wildflowers, bird watching, and rock climbing.

A centuries-old copper mine that once provided two thirds of the world's copper supply.

A normal, unassuming pedestrian overpass has been the demise of many, many trucks.

The largest cemetery for enslaved people in Loudoun County was almost lost to history, if not for the research of a minister.

An allegedly haunted testament to a local businessman's desire for status, posterity, and charity.

A reproduction of a mysteriously preserved body found in the 18th-century and put on display for years before burial.

The hilltop ruins of a border fortification in the Italian Alps that was much fought over.