Places StepYoshi Wants to Go

On rare days, this abandoned castle's gatekeepers open its doors, revealing the eye-popping splendor hidden inside.

This medieval Italian town is a sheer (and beautiful) cliffside defense.

A sunken idol welcomes parishioners to Davy Jones' Locker.

Five candy-colored villages on the Italian Riviera.

The remains of a town so thoroughly destroyed by French forces that the citizens simply left.

The plague quarantine island home to the alleged "Vampire of Venice."

A complex, nine-layer maze on the grounds of a Venetian doge's playground.

The doodles of a genius line the walls of a secret room under the Medici Chapel, where they were hidden for nearly 500 years.

This domed temple was built in a hidden cave mouth as a refuge for sinners seeking absolution.

This quaint Italian town keeps losing ground as the sides of its plateau slowly erode.

The engineering wonder and pleasure dome of a much-maligned emperor still holds undiscovered secrets.

Pilgrimage site for star-crossed lovers.

Over 50 exquisite hand-painted Renaissance maps decorate a Medici storage room.

Virgil's many-mouthed gateway to the underworld.

Filled with goldfish swimming in a shallow pool of sea water, this ancient crypt is more wishing well than burial site.

Medieval town turned hippie commune, once home to the secret foreskin of Jesus Christ.

Skulls from the plague of 1656 and World War II bombings are united by a cult dedicated to caring for the ancient dead.

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

This immaculate and historic water garden culminates in a massive stone dining table with an inset fountain for chilling the wine of the Cardinal's guests.

Natural cathedral designed by Italian artist Giuliano Mauri.

2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.

Sitting on an Italian hilltop is this surreal fortress built by the mad inventor of electrohomeopathy.

The largest and most famous wax anatomical collection anywhere in the world.

Abandoned medieval hill town.