LUX's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Porto, Portugal

Igreja de São Francisco Catacombs

Ancient catacombs form the foundation for this Rococo orgy of a church.
Cascais, Portugal

Boca do Inferno

A unique seaside cave where Aleister Crowley faked his own death.
Évora, Portugal

Portugal's Chapel of Bones

A 16th century chapel decorated with bones, skulls, and entire bodies hanging from the wall.
Évora, Portugal

Almendres Cromlech

"Portugal's Stonehenge" is made up of nut-like stones aligned with the heavens.
Tomar, Portugal

Convento de Cristo

The medieval castle built as headquarters for the Pope's secretive Knights Templar.
Dubova, Romania

Decebal's Head

A giant portrait of an ancient king looms over the river.
Boljetin, Serbia

Lepenski Vir

Stone age urban planning.
Golubac, Serbia

Golubac Fortress

This 14th century castle withstood years of battle but is now sliding off the hills into the Danube.
Belgrade, Serbia

Western City Gate of Belgrade

A pair of connected skyscrapers form this symbolic gateway.
Belgrade, Serbia

Ruins of Yugoslav Army Headquarters

Destroyed Serbian army headquarters sits half crumbled in a largely revitalized Belgrade.
Greece

Sami

A spectacular cave and a beguiling lake.
Kalabaka, Greece

Meteora

Monasteries on rock pillars, once accessible only by frayed ropes.
Palermo, Italy

Santuario di Santa Rosalia

Cave shrine on Monte Pellegrino.
Chiusdino, Italy

Abbey of San Galgano

These gutted monastery ruins still stand proudly in the middle of the Italian countryside.
Genoa, Italy

Cimitero Monumentale di Staglieno

A stunning cemetery famous for its extraordinarily delicate & lifelike mourning sculptures.
Belpasso, Italy

Mount Etna

The world's most active stratovolcano is almost always erupting.
Realmonte, Italy

Scala dei Turchi

"Stairs of the Turks", a chalky white cliff eroded conveniently into stairs, allowing for easy pillaging.
San Gimignano, Italy

The Museum of Medieval Torture

Medieval torture techniques with a modern conscience.
Rome, Italy

Ospedale delle Bambole (Doll Hospital)

A hospital where antique dolls are given new life.
Cefalù, Italy

Aleister Crowley's Abbey of Thelema

Where Aleister Crowley taught magick in "La Chambre Des Cauchemars," his "Chamber of Nightmares."
Rome, Italy

Pyramid of Cestius

The only "Egyptian" pyramid in Europe and the legendary tomb of Remus.
Rome, Italy

The Mouth of Truth

The yawning maw of this pagan visage is said to bite off the hands of liars.
Rome, Italy

The Aventine Keyhole

Rome's semi-secret peephole vista is also a former Crusader stronghold.
Montegabbione (TR), Italy

La Scarzuola

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