These abundant, over-the-top monuments are so widely scattered that they define the entire compact capital cityscape, often leading to jokes about whether there are more statues than residents.

A 'living museum' in Leiden, the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.

According to Greek mythology, this natural spring is the home of a freshwater nymph.

A mysterious ancient elephant said to possess magic powers is now the symbol of a Sicilian city.

2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.

Famously misunderstood wonder of the ancient world

Three connected pink triangles memorialize persecuted gays and lesbians throughout history.

This bird-loving brewery is situated in an old municipal bathhouse, nestled beside a 300-year-old windmill.

This impressive collection of rare books on ancient mysticism inspired author Dan Brown.

Cat art as far as the eye can see.

This surreal memorial/cemetery is a necropolis of crumbling stonework and puzzle-shaped headstones.

This truly palatial work of Communist-era architecture now sits crumbling on a Croatian beach.

This huge metal monument is slowly being stripped to its concrete skeleton.

Yugoslavia's biggest underground airport lies in ruins.

The walls of this medieval church are covered with perfectly preserved frescos, including a pristine example of the Dance of Death.

The oldest of Venice's plague quarantine stations, designed to keep the medieval city safe from disease.

This abandoned island off the Venetian coast has been a radical monastery, a political prison, and a secret Nazi base.

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

A significant example of Czech cubist architecture—a style you won't find anywhere else in the world.

Its frescoes depict the likeness of Marshal Tito, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Engels burning in hell.

This exclusive resort has completely covered a tiny Balkan island in a 5-star warren of guest rooms.

These historic defenses ensured the city within would survive hundreds of years of occupations, sieges, and invasions.

The castle in the romantic landscape of Podyjí houses what may be Europe's largest collection of taxidermy dogs.

Two stone columns flank the grand Venice square, but there were supposed to be three.