Quito at $334 RT

Quito has some pretty fantastic buildings, but the hauntingly beautiful Basílica del Voto Nacional takes the cake.

You might feel a little shiver as you stare up at the towering basilica. That could be because of the ominous, neo-Gothic architecture. Or it could be because, according to local legend, this church has the power to end the world.

Plans for the Basílica del Voto Nacional began in 1883, but it wasn't opened until 1988, over a century later. Construction dragged on for so long that a legend began making the rounds in Quito—if the building is ever actually completed, the world will end.

These days, most Ecuadorians use the story as a tongue-in-cheek way of spooking tourists. But the basilica remains officially "under construction," just in case.

If only all apocalyptic threats could be this beautiful :-)