Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Pyramid of Cestius

Discover Pyramid of Cestius in Rome, Italy: The only "Egyptian" pyramid in Europe and the legendary tomb of Remus.

The Mad Colored Houses of Burano

Discover The Mad Colored Houses of Burano in Venice, Italy: This community on a small Venetian island has taken to painting their houses in bright neon hues.

The Mouth of Truth

Discover The Mouth of Truth in Rome, Italy: The yawning maw of this pagan visage is said to bite off the hands of liars.

The Aventine Keyhole

Discover The Aventine Keyhole in Rome, Italy: Rome's semi-secret peephole vista is also a former Crusader stronghold.

The Dome Illusion

Discover The Dome Illusion in Rome, Italy: A master of trompe-l'oeil creates a stunning, tourist-fooling dome out of a flat ceiling.

The Sunken City of Baia

Discover The Sunken City of Baia in Baia, Italy: A submerged archeological park still holds the wonders of a Roman Sodom.

Quartiere Coppedè

Discover Quartiere Coppedè in Rome, Italy: Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.

The Monsters of Bomarzo

Discover The Monsters of Bomarzo in Bomarzo, Italy: A 16th-century horror show built in a lovely Italian garden.

Roman Cat Sanctuary

Discover Torre Argentina (Roman Cat Sanctuary) in Rome, Italy: Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills)

Discover Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) in Sorrento, Italy: An Italian crevasse filled with abandoned buildings gives visitors a look at the world without humans.

Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts

Discover Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts in Rome, Italy: The crypts of Capuchin friars decorated with the bones of over 4,000 friars, including an entire "crypt of pelvises.".

Maison Bonaparte

Discover Maison Bonaparte in Ajaccio, France: Napoleon's childhood home is now open for people to explore the beginnings of France's short general.

Francois Hennebique’s Concrete Manor

Discover Francois Hennebique's Concrete Manor in Bourg-la-Reine, France: The man who introduced reinforced concrete to the world demonstrated its genius by using it to build his own house.

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i
To represent a masterpiece of human creative genius. 261 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. 480 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. 514 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. 642 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. 137 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. 172 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). 256 vii
To contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance. 151 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. 98 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. 168

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