Basilica of San Domenico, SIENA ITALY

The church was begun in 1226-1265, but was enlarged in the 14th century resulting in the gothic appearance it has now. However, aspects of the Gothic structure were subsequently destroyed by fires in 1443, 1456 and 1531, and further damage later resulted from military occupation (1548-1552).

The head (and one thumb) of  Catherine of Siena, a canonized saint and one of the incorruptibles finds final rest in the Basilica of San Domenico.

Siena, ITALY

The historic center of Siena has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Siena is famous for its medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice a year in the city center, the Piazzo del Campo.

The Palatine Hill, ROME ITALY

Once the residence of emperors and aristocrats, the Palatine Hill is a patchwork of surviving temples, arches, and arenas amid rolling greenery.

St Giles Cathedral (Royal Mile), EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

St Giles Cathedral. This cathedral is dedicated to the patron saint of Edinburgh, and of lepers and the handicapped. Its heavy, dark Gothic style fits with the brooding castle a few minutes away and the rest of the sooty buildings on the Royal Mile.

Thistle Chapel. The chapel is a delightful surprise—a small, brightly decorated, colorful, fanciful gem buried in the gloomy cathedral. Famous royals Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Philip were knighted here.

A Bit O' Edinburgh and the Royal Mile EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

The Royal Mile cuts through the heart of medieval Old Town. At the bottom of the Mile is the Palace of Holy Rood (the residence of the Royal Family when in Scotland) and the modern Parliament Building (pictured directly below); at the top of the Mile is commanding Edinburgh Castle.

Street performers work the Royal Mile during the Fringe Festival celebrating the Avant garde; this August festival brings 400,000 people to Edinburgh.

Closes (steep, narrow alleyways) punctuate the main route and offer many options for exploration off the main drag. These offshoots were named as such because they were closed off at night to keep riff raff out. If you didn’t pay attention to the cry of “gardyloo!” in 16th-century Edinburgh, you might be covered in some less-than desirable splatter as it was customary to throw human waste from the windows.

Mary King’s Close. 3½ stories beneath today’s Royal Mile and entombed beneath 3½ centuries of construction, in 1629, this close was a thriving neighborhood. Some claim it had been sealed up to contain bubonic plague, making it not only a fascinating time capsule, but also one of the most haunted sites in Scotland.

What is it? It’s NOT dog poop or Twinkie tempura—it IS something we actually ate and is a tourist-loving Scottish snack. This mysterious turd-like object is actually a deep-fried Mars bar.