Whether it’s kissing stones, throwing coins in fountains or praying desperately that birds don’t fly away, there are many places out there that have strange beliefs and superstitions attached. These fountains, rocks, caves and towers attract people from all over the world, either going for the old folk tale hook, line and sinker or not wanting to take the risk, just in case the myth is true. But where are these places? Read on – if you’re feeling lucky.
The Mouth of Truth, Rome, Italy
La Bocca della Verità is perhaps the only former manhole cover in the world that acts as a polygraph test. Standing outside the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin it supposedly catches out liars. It takes the form of a human face carved into stone, and it has a small hole in which the brave can put their hand, and then make a statement.
Should your words be the truth, you will be able to pull your hand out with no effect. Should you tell a dastardly, wicked lie, the mouth will snap shut and bite your hand off.
The Blarney Stone, Blarney Castle, Ireland
Thousands of people every year throw hygiene to the wind in order to kiss the famous stone, which is supposed to bestow the gift of the gab on anyone who puckers up to it.
The origins of the stone, which can be found near Cork, are shrouded in mystery and even the owners of the castle can’t give a definitive explanation.
Amongst many stories, some say it was the stone Moses struck to produce water for the Israelites as they fled Egypt and others argue it was part of the old king’s throne, which had magical powers.
The Tower of London, England
Formerly used as a palace and a prison for those who got on the wrong side of the monarchy, the Tower is one of London’s most famous landmarks. It has eight inhabitants that are particularly important, however – the ravens. Old legend has it that should the ravens ever leave the Tower, then the whole kingdom will fall.
Today the eight chosen guard ravens have their wings clipped so they can’t fly away. The Tower hosts many tourist attractions, including the Crown Jewels.
Lourdes, France
In the foothills of the Pyrenees, this little town attracts millions of pilgrims every year, many of whom believe that the spring waters have healing properties. The whole thing kicked off in 1858, when a 14-year-old schoolgirl came upon a vision of the Virgin Mary in a remote grotto. Soon after, a statue was erected in the spot, and the water trickling from the cave has been linked with plenty of unexplained recoveries. Today around five million visitors crowd around it every year, hoping to be cured.
The Fountain of Youth, St Augustine, Florida
Shortly after the discovery of the Americas, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León set out to find Bimini, an island to the north that he had heard about in Puerto Rico.
According to local legend, Bimini was home to a fountain that had magical restorative properties, and Ponce de León set off to track it down. His landing spot is now in the Fountain Of Youth National Archaeological Park, and there can be queues to drink from the fountain there. It’s highly unlikely that it’s the Bimini of lore, but don’t spoil the fun by telling anyone that.
The Devil’s Marbles, Central Australia
In Aboriginal culture, the Rainbow Serpent is thought to be responsible for carving out much of the landscape, as well as creating water sources and replenishing supplies. The serpent also protects its people and punishes law-breakers.
According to the indigenous Kaytetye people, it will have children too. They believe that the Devil’s Marbles, a scattering of huge mysterious boulders, are the Rainbow Serpent’s eggs. Just make sure you get there before they hatch.
The Miracle Tile, Vilnius Cathedral, Lithuania
In 1989, the people of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined together (literally) for an incredible protest against Soviet rule. Over 2 million people formed a human chain from Tallinn, Estonia to Vilnius, Lithuania in a bid to force the world to pay them attention.
It worked, possibly because the end point of this chain, which stretched over 600km, was a tile in Vilnius’ cathedral. The Stebuklas, or miracle tile, supposedly has magical properties, and anyone who spins around on it three times will have a wish granted.
The Stebuklas tile is still there, and you can test out whether it really works.
The Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
It is said that if you throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain that you will one day return to the Eternal City. Some would say that putting the coin towards an airfare would be a better guarantee, but that doesn’t stop thousands of people turning their back to the fountain and lobbing loose change over their shoulder every day.
However, there are other conditions attached – those who throw two coins in are supposedly getting married, while those who throw in three are heading for divorce.
Gibraltar
This British enclave on the southern tip of Spain is home to some unusual residents. The Barbary Macaques are the only primates (excluding ourselves) on the European mainland, and old folk tales say that they hold the key to Gibraltar’s destiny. It is said that the moment that the wild monkeys leave, Britain will lose its grasp on Gibraltar.
Captured from the Spanish in 1704, the Rock is an important base for the British Navy, and it was a key German target during the Second World War. In a rather drastic measure to ensure that the Nazis didn’t get their hands on the gateway to the Mediterranean, it is thought that Winston Churchill personally ordered that the dwindling stock of Barbaries should be replenished.
Superstition Mountain, Arizona, USA
As the name would suggest, this imposing peak has many a story attached to it. The local Indians were scared of it, believing it to be a place inhabited by spirits, whilst the Spanish conquistadors witnessed curious phenomena after dark.
Whilst it is home to a plush retreat today, the most intriguing reason to visit the mountain and its accompanying range is to hunt for the lost treasure of Jacob Waltz. He allegedly found the richest gold mine in the world, but took the secret of its exact location with him to the grave when he died in 1891.
This article was originally written for AOL UK.
Copyright David Whitley
