With Halloween on the horizon, adding a touch of the macabre to one’s sightseeing is a timely way to get into the spirit of the season. Here is just a sampling of some of Europe’s creepier and more unusual sights:

South Bridge Vaults of Edinburgh, Scotland: Since 1788, a series of chambers within the arches of a large bridge housed workshops and taverns and served as storage space. Always damp and lacking in adequate sanitation and air circulation, tradesmen soon left the premises, and they came to serve as refuge for the poorest of the poor and the site of illegal activities such as gambling and distilling. By around 1860, the site was abandoned, and it was only in 1985 that the place was rediscovered. Today, various vendors offer tours of the premises. The one-hour Vaults Tour offered by Auld Reekie Tours is a led by a costumed guide, who tells tales of murders, witches and other gruesome figures as the space is explored by candlelight. Adult participation costs 22 UK pounds ($29.65). Online: auldreekietours.com

The Medieval Crime Museum in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany: The darker side of medieval life is brought to light in the Mittelalterliches Kriminalmuseum, where various implements of torture and punishment are on display. The main exhibits include the Iron Maiden, a human-shaped cabinet with spikes inside, as well as metal face masks meant to shame a gossiper or busybody. The museum is open daily. Adult entry costs 9.50 euros; school-aged children pay 5 euros to enter. Online: kriminalmuseum.eu/en

Witches Tower in Idstein, Germany: A plethora of immaculately preserved half-timbered houses make this town just a short drive north of Wiesbaden a day trip-worthy destination throughout the year. Among its most prominent landmarks is the Hexenturm, a round stone tower first built in 1170 and completed in several stages. While the city’s official website states the tower itself has nothing to do with the 17th-century witch hunts that took place in Idstein, a marble plaque at the foot of the tower memorializes the town’s 39 men and women executed for practicing witchcraft. A key to the tower can be obtained at the tourist information point in the main square. Online: idstein.de

Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo, Sicily: When Capuchin friars exhumed corpses in order to move them to a new final resting place back in the 16th century, they noticed dozens of the bodies had naturally mummified. This prompted them to display the bodies and offer mummification services to the general public. The Catacombe dei Cappuccini is most famously home to Rosalia Lombardo, a 2-year-old who died of pneumonia in 1920; her angelic appearance has led to the nickname “Sleeping Beauty.” The catacombs are open daily; adult entry costs 5 euros. Online: catacombefraticappuccini.com/en

Sedlec Ossuary near Kutna Hora, Czech Republic: Inside a medieval Gothic church on the outskirts of town is found a church otherwise known as the Church of Bones, so named for its ornamentation fashioned out of skulls, femurs and other human bones, including a massive chandelier and a coat of arms. The remains of some 40,000 souls have found their final resting place here. The pleasant town of Kutna Hora itself, some 40 miles from Prague, is also home to a museum dedicated to medieval silver mining. Entry to the ossuary, open daily, costs 220 Czech korunas ($10.65). Online: sedlec.info/en/ossuary

Museum Vrolik in Amsterdam, Netherlands: A father and son, both professors of anatomy, began this collection of medical specimens and oddities in the 1700s. Over the years, other anatomists have contributed their own finds. Items on display include deformed bones, kidney stones, one-eyed creatures, preserved conjoined twins and “mermaid fetuses,” human babies with a fatal congenital condition. Animal anatomy is also on display. The museum is open Monday through Fridays; adult admission costs 11 euros. Online: museumvrolik.nl/en

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle, England: A postcard-perfect village in Cornwall houses one of the world’s largest collections of items relating to witchcraft, the occult and magic. Amongst its 3,000 objects are found crystal balls, wands, black mirrors, charms, herbs and other artifacts. As the small museum tends to fill up quickly, visiting in the off-season is apt to be a more pleasant experience. Adult entry costs 7 UK pounds ($9.45). Online: museumofwitchcraftandmagic.co.uk

The San Gennaro Catacombs of Naples, Italy: Founded by the Greeks in the 6th or 8th century BC, Naples’ long and storied past is best explored by heading underground. These catacombs named after the city’s main patron saint illustrate the connection between Naples residents of past and present, seamlessly blending religion with folklore, tradition and superstition. The caves and caverns used for shelter, storage and burials for centuries can be explored daily except for Wednesdays by means of an expertly guided tour that takes about two hours to complete. Tickets cost 13 euros for adults, 6 euros for youth and are free for children under the age of six. Online: catacombedinapoli.it/en