Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Italy’s Sammezzano Castle

Discover Sammezzano Castle in Reggello, Italy: On rare days, this abandoned castle's gatekeepers open its doors, revealing the eye-popping splendor hidden inside.

Giant Pink Bunny

Discover Giant Pink Bunny in Artesina, Italy: Giant, pink stuffed rabbit on an Italian mountain.

Poveglia Plague Island

Discover Poveglia Plague Island in Venice, Italy: A small island less than half a mile from Venice is a forbidden island with a dark and twisted past.

Ruins of the Circo Romano

Discover Ruins of the Circo Romano in Milan, Italy: See what remains of a once grand ancient Roman circus.

Tomb of Enrico Rastelli

Discover Tomb of Enrico Rastelli in Bergamo, Italy: A genius of the art of juggling is buried here.

Pier Paolo Pasolini Park

Discover Pier Paolo Pasolini Park in Rome, Italy: A literary park dedicated to the memory of a filmmaker, writer, and intellectual who was killed in 1975.

Statua di Re Gino

Discover Statua di Re Gino in San Giovanni in Persiceto, Italy: A bronze monument to his majesty, King Gino.

Miniera di Monte Narba

Discover Miniera di Monte Narba in South Sardina, Italy: Once one of the largest sites of silver deposits in Italy.

Castello Aragonese Calvi Risorta

Discover Castello Aragonese Calvi Risorta in Pignataro Maggiore, Italy: Once home to the episcopal curia of the local diocese.

Parco Sculture del Chianti

Discover Parco Sculture del Chianti in Pievasciata, Italy: A blend of nature and art awaits visitors to this park.

Fiorenzo Pilia’s Fantastic Garden

Discover Il Giardino Fantastico di Fiorenzo Pilia in San Sperate, Italy: A collection of sculptures that explore what's at stake when nature is thrown out of balance.

Torre Federici

Discover Torre Federici in Sonico, Italy: A family accused of witchcraft once called this medieval tower home.

Filanda di Forno

Discover Filanda di Forno in Forno, Italy: The crumbling remains of a 19th-century textile factory.

Cat Shrine

Discover Cat Shrine in Vernazza, Italy: On the walking path from Monterosso to Vernazza, a small shrine dedicated to feline friends.

Casa Museo Di Antonio Gramsci

Discover Casa Museo Di Antonio Gramsci in Ghilarza, Italy: The childhood family home of Italian Marxist theorist and politician Antonio Gramsci.

Erdpyramide in Tirol

Discover Erdpyramide in Tirol in Tirolo, Italy: These unique "earth pyramid" clay columns can be found in ravines around the village of Tirolo.

Balze del Valdarno

Discover Balze del Valdarno in Botriolo, Italy: Leonardo da Vinci was one of many to find inspiration in this unique, rocky landscape in Tuscany.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 260 ii
To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design. 474 iii
To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared. 499 iv
To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history. 633 ix
To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals. 135 v
To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change. 167 vi
To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria). 252 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 148 viii
To be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features. 96 x
To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation. 166

PP ToS