These steps offer a breathtaking view of one of Europe's most besieged fortresses.

Touching this 18th-century Scottish philosopher’s toe allegedly conjures good fortune.

This otherwise ordinary close on the Royal Mile constituted the end of the world for Edinburgh’s poorest residents.

Overlooked by many, the two famous Scottish warriors guard the main gate of Edinburgh Castle.

A labyrinthine network of chambers with a storied past hides below Edinburgh's South Bridge.

This obscure walkway links Edinburgh’s Old Town with one of the city's prime vantage points.

A book bound in the skin of an infamous criminal, along with countless other specimens.

Near the former site of numerous witch burnings, this lavish Edinburgh mainstay pays homage to Scotland's brutal history.

17th century streets hidden under Edinburgh were once a breeding ground for the black death.

The ruins of this gorgeous clifftop castle look like something from a fantasy novel.

This brilliant display of whirling fireballs celebrates Hogmanay.

The remains of a grand castle that may have inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Catacombs turned marketplace.

Kings Cross Station pays tribute to its role in Britain's best-selling book series.

This shop and gallery is a modern-day cabinet of curiosities, unassumingly positioned along an urban thoroughfare.

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

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

This bustling Italian plaza is built on the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater.

Next to the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a cemetery home to ancient sarcophagi and disturbing murals.

Italian cave with exceptional acoustics and an unsavory history.

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

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

This triumphal 16th-century arched gateway leads to the oldest street in Palermo.

Cave shrine on Monte Pellegrino.