Nestled in the heart of Milan is a real wunderkammer of morbid curiosities.

"The prettiest love letters in the world" ... or so said Lord Byron.

One of the world’s smallest bars, just 13 square feet, is brimming with speakeasy flair.

An unmistakable facial pareidolia in the Julian Alps also includes a fantastic tale.

Venice's "Island of the Mad."

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

A wunderkammer of curious objects and intriguing art nestled within a hub of ancient Roman sites.

A collection of objects supposedly singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.

The martyr's wax-enhanced skeletal remains lie preserved in a glass case in the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.

The Pope’s secret escape route.

This large, circular tomb is the final resting place of the first emperor of Rome.

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.

The underground sanctuary of a mysterious ancient cult.

This is the oldest Roman-made bridge in the city still existing in its original state.

The mystic whose incorrupt corpse still attracts the faithful.

In Rome’s Jewish ghetto, a 200-year-old bakery still makes the neighborhood’s historic sweets.

These hut foundations are believed to be the residence of Romulus, founder of Rome.

A forgotten "city of water" underneath the famous Trevi district.

This 170-year-old Swiss guesthouse built into the side of a mountain is best accessed by a cable car.

A Swiss magician's vault of oddities.

This statue is the only female representation of Rome's "talking statues."

Known for centuries as the famous Roman emperor's burial place, this monument is actually something else.

One of the most important yet well-hidden museums dedicated to the history of medicine.