The elaborate clockwork contraptions in this Scottish gallery create small worlds of whimsy and horror.

The crypts of Capuchin friars decorated with the bones of over 4,000 friars, including an entire "crypt of pelvises."

A shrine to the royal lord of all cacti.

This memorial and the seawall that it stands near are powerful symbols of the island’s resilience.

This South-by-South-Asian restaurant serves up Indian-spiced Southern fried chicken and a Desi-style pastrami.

Originally brought to Texas by Czech settlers, these sweet and savory pastries are an essential local breakfast staple.

Some of the best Chinese-Vietnamese fusion can be found at outposts of this homegrown empire.

Once seen as a bit of an eyesore, this sculpture has become a staple of downtown Houston.

This small park features a monumental fountain wall, providing a great photo opportunity in the middle of Houston.

An oddities shop packed with twisted treasures inspired by Oscar Wilde and Edgar Allan Poe.

At the "Garage Mahal" in Houston, car culture is about more than just driving.

Artist James Turrell's ode to dawn and dusk on the campus of Rice University.

An 18th century fountain and two columns are all that remains of Rome's forgotten river harbor.

A detailed pachyderm supports Rome's smallest Egyptian obelisk.

The remains of this 2nd-century Roman temple are incorporated into a modern building.

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

Breathtaking and huge 430 year old maps of Italy.

Hidden beneath the famous St. Peter's Basilica is a veritable city of the dead that may hold the remains of St. Peter himself.

Historic fortifications form the boundary of Vatican City, but it’s not entirely surrounded by walls.

This ritzy Italian market is built around a statue of an unforgiven heretic who was burned for his belief in an endless universe.

Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

The spot where the fascist dictator made some of his most famous speeches including declaring war on Britain and France.

A rather vulgar example of the transition from Latin to the Italian vernacular.

A 17-acre urban oasis featuring a pollinator garden, heritage trees, and an aerial tree walk.