emmaayling's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
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Rome, Italy

St. Valentine's Skull

The skull of the patron saint of lovers lies in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin—maybe.
Rome, Italy

The Protestant Cemetery

The final resting place of the poets Shelley and Keats.
Rome, Italy

Arch of Gallienus

This Roman arch marks the location of an ancient gate at one of the Seven Hills of Rome.
Rome, Italy

Rome's Gladiator School

This historic recreationist school churns out warriors that may very well have had a fighting chance in Rome's pits of the day.
Rome, Italy

Via Appia

2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.
Rome, Italy

Vigna Randanini

One of seven Jewish catacombs in Rome and one of only two open to the public.
Rome, Italy

The Catacombs of San Sebastian

Jesus' footprints and the first catacombs in the world.
Porto, Portugal

Igreja de São Francisco Catacombs

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

Quinta da Regaleira

This eccentrically decorated palace is replete with grottoes, fountains, tunnels, and caves.
Sintra, Portugal

Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors)

An ancient and majestic fortress that played an integral role in Portugal's road to independence.
Lisbon, Portugal

Rhinoceros of Belem Tower

A king's pet, a pope's gift, an artist's inspiration, and a tragic shipwreck.
Alcobaça, Portugal

Tomb of Inês de Castro

The corpse bride of Portugal.
Tomar, Portugal

Convento de Cristo

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

Marinaleda

A micro-communist utopia in Spain with no police, no mortgages and full employment.
Barcelona, Spain

La Carbonería

One of the most photographed buildings in a city known for its Modernista architecture is an abandoned squat.
Córdoba, Spain

Mezquita (Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba)

Spain's unique Mosque-Cathedral has been a place of worship for both Muslims and Christians throughout its history.
La Palma, Spain

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory

This mountaintop observatory is home to one of the world's largest reflective telescopes.
Tinajo, Spain

Timanfaya National Park

Visit a surreal landscape so otherworldly NASA actually used it to train the Apollo 17 crew.
Cartagena, Spain

Roman Theatre of Cartagena

An ancient Roman theatre restored to its former glory in the Spanish city of Cartegena.
Pol. Ind. de Asipo, Spain

Church of Skate

This century-old ruined temple was reborn as "The Church of Skate."
Valencia, Spain

Holy Chalice of Valencia

Of the many chalices in the running for the Holy Grail, this one in Valencia Cathedral sure looks the part.
Salamanca, Spain

Cathedral of Salamanca's Astronaut

The Cathedral of Salamanca has a number of unusual carvings but none so surprising as a modern astronaut.
Jaca, Spain

Monastery of San Juan de la Peña

This religious complex carved into a cliff is steeped in legends of miraculous stags and the Holy Grail.
Eltziego, Spain

Hotel Marques De Riscal

A medieval village holds a very modern hotel.