Places toniamonkey Wants to Go

The once forbidden "secret cabinet" of erotic art from excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Ruins of a 10th century church tucked away deep in a botanical garden.

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

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

This 16th-century monastery has been turned into a surrealist architecture compound.

The final resting place of the poets Shelley and Keats.

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

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

A medieval church built into an ancient cave.

This serene, turquoise lake in an extraordinary nature reserve showcases a rare natural phenomenon.

This small island has a dark past as a colony for Chinese lepers and a dropoff point for bootleggers.

A humble ancient well where Scottish knight, Sir William Wallace, took his final drink.

Cascading outward, this waterfall creates the appearance of a flowing veil.

A lavish 16th-century mansion filled with spectacular staircases, fantastic frescoes, and gorgeous gardens.

This recessed garden protects thousands of mountain plants by creating its own microclimates.

This Turkish cave boasts some rather bizarre associations with the King of Mount Olympus.

This series of waterfalls tumble into a radiantly blue river.

Eat like a bird in a bamboo nest.

This museum dedicated to divination also honors a local 10th-century prophetess.

Sit where JFK proposed to Jackie or where Nixon dined on meatloaf at this storied pub.

The final resting place of Harriet Tubman and other famous historical figures.

This natural history museum houses one of the world's largest rat kings, a terrifying jumble of tangled rodents.

This charming woodland trail is peppered with poetry.

The final resting place of one of Thomas Jefferson's formerly enslaved sons.