Michelle Cassidy's User Profile - Atlas Obscura
Sal, Cape Verde

Pedra de Lume

An incredibly salty lake inside the crater of an extinct volcano.
Leuven, Belgium

Middelpunt van Leuven

This unassuming stone bollard is a centuries-old marker denoting the center of the city.
Aulendorf, Germany

Skeletons of St. Martin Church

Two elaborately decorated "catacomb saints" are displayed on either side of the altar in a small church in Germany.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Transvaal Boer

Above the heads of passersby stands a small statue commemorating soldiers from the Boer War.
Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain

Necròpolis de Cala Morell

These ancient burial caves carved into the cliffs offer a glimpse into prehistoric funeral practices and Menorca's early inhabitants.
Paisley, Oregon

Paisley Five Mile Caves

These wave-cut overhangs on ancient Lake Chewaucan contain some of the oldest evidence of human habitation in North America.
Chigasaki, Japan

Ochobamba

An old woman cured cholera in the 1820s and now her grave is said to be the city’s most cursed object.
Reykjavik, Iceland

Þúfa

This earthwork installation sits on a grassy hill, celebrating Iceland's past and present.
Seattle, Washington

Wall of Misfit Art

A mesmerizing amount of crazy art is attached to the side of this house on Seattle's Phinney Ridge, bringing smiles to those who venture down the driveway to take a look.
Weyburn, Saskatchewan

Soo Line Historical Museum

The museum showcases the largest private silver collection in Canada, featuring 3,333 pieces.
Afyonkarahisar, Turkey

Afyonkarahisar Castle

This 3,000-year-old “opium black fortress” towers over the ancient town named after it.
Taipei City, Taiwan

Jimmy's Moon Bus

Step into this whimsical art installation based on a popular picture book.
Tomar, Portugal

Molly Williams Mural

In Portugal, a larger-than-life painting of America's first Black female firefighter.
Antwerp, Belgium

Heksensteen

A curious stone in a public square commemorates the victims of witch-burning.
New Milford, Connecticut

Gaylordsville Spite House

The best revenge is a five-tiered layer cake of a dwelling.
Leicester, Vermont

Queen Connie

A gorilla holding a VW Beetle isn't what you'd expect in rural Vermont.
Görlitz, Germany

Jugendstilkaufhaus Görlitz

After falling into disuse, this imposing department store found new life as a Hollywood backdrop and a theater.
Panaji, India

Panaji's Heritage Steps

These colorful staircases can be found around Goa’s capital.
Bale, Croatia

Fort Forno

A strategically positioned fortress that protected the Fazana channel has found new life as a place for theater.
Alishan, Taiwan

Alishan Sacred Tree Relics

You can still see the remains of a sacred 3,000-year-old cypress.
Mexico City, Mexico

Mercado Abelardo L. Rodríguez Murals

Works from the golden age of Mexican muralism can be found inside a typical city market.
Eagle Nest, New Mexico

Palisades Sill

Spectacular 300-foot cliffs in a lush mountain canyon.
Saltergate, England

Hole of Horcum

Legend says that Wade the Giant scooped up a handful of earth to throw at his wife, leaving behind this round valley.
Naha, Japan

Yamashita Archaeological Cave

Archaeologists continue to debate whether this site yielded the oldest human remains in Japan.