Deceased nuns were placed on stone chairs to decompose, while the surviving nuns prayed near the lifeless bodies.

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

Over 100 towers were built in Bologna during the Middle Ages, but only 22 survive.

The tomb of the mythological founder of Padua is not hidden in some obscure crypt, but stands right in the middle of the city square.

A fairytale island floats in the middle of Italy's little-known Lake Orta.

Centuries ago, red and white wine poured from the statue's breasts whenever a new Venetian ruler was elected.

Crossing this suspension bridge feels like walking through the sky, a fitting tribute to the head of the Apollo program.

This Roman statue is missing a limb from when the Venetians stole it from Constantinople during the Crusades.

Originally a leper colony, the island is now an Armenian monastery that's home to an incredible manuscript library and eclectic museum.

The Sighignola summit on the Swiss border offers views so breathtaking it's been named one of the most beautiful places in Italy.

The Bourbon royal family had this unique octagonal hunting "cottage" built on a tiny islet in Lake Fusaro.

The world's largest "Christmas tree" is illuminated by hundreds of lights stretching 2,000 feet up the slope of Mount Ingino.

The secret medieval communication system will whisk your words above the noise of the crowd.

Gorgeous views of Italian mountains and valleys form the backdrop of this unique open-air theater.

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

A stunning hermit's shrine on a steep rocky spur in Northern Italy.

A treasure trove of Renaissance-era funerary art in a Roman church built on top of Nero's grave.

A medieval fountain lined with 99 unique stone faces whose origins and meaning remain unknown.

The Roman Emperor's lost summer home and grotto full of enormous sculptures sit along the Italian seashore.

Naturally preserved bodies are eerily staged throughout the crypt in varying poses.

An archaeological treasure trove towers over the valley of Chiavenna.

A massive mausoleum towers over the gravestones in a 19th-century Italian "model village."

The skulls and bones of thousands of soldiers line the walls of this small Italian chapel.

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