This seaside Italian village doesn't just look Escher-esque, it actually inspired the mind-bending artist.

In a city that boasts four separate inclined cable railways, this is one of the busiest funicular lines in the world.

Two stone columns flank the grand Venice square, but there were supposed to be three.

A small window on Via Piella offers a lovely and rare peek at Bologna's lost canals.

A volcanic old faithful, Stromboli has been erupting continuously for the last 2000 years.

Two very green residential towers cleaning the air in one of Europe's most polluted cities.

Southern Italy's spinning top village.

This magical-looking island is notorious for the misfortunes suffered by its owners.

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

Crushed coral and crystals give the sand its signature coloration.

These "anatomical machines" are only one of the many strange items in this Italian crypt.

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

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

A labyrinth of ancient tunnels hidden below the city holds the ruins of 2,500 years of history.

The last moments of the ill-fated Pompeiians, frozen forever in plaster.

2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.

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

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

Rome's semi-secret peephole vista is also a former Crusader stronghold.

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

This community on a small Venetian island has taken to painting their houses in bright neon hues.

A 16th-century horror show built in a lovely Italian garden.

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

Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.