Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Biblioteca Malatestiana

Discover Biblioteca Malatestiana in Cesena, Italy: A gorgeous medieval library where the books are kept in chains.

Lazzaretto Vecchio

Discover Lazzaretto Vecchio in Lido, Italy: The oldest of Venice's plague quarantine stations, designed to keep the medieval city safe from disease.

The Devil’s Column

Discover The Devil's Column in Milan, Italy: The mark of the Devil's horns on a marble column in Milan.

Funicolare Centrale

Discover Funicolare Centrale in Naples, Italy: In a city that boasts four separate inclined cable railways, this is one of the busiest funicular lines in the world.

Castel del Monte

Discover Castel del Monte in Andria, Italy: Geometry and mystery come together in an epic show of octagonal masonry.

Dante’s Tomb

Discover Dante's Tomb in Ravenna, Italy: Italian poet Dante Alighieri is entombed in this small mausoleum in Ravenna, and his hometown of Florence has never been too happy about it.

Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio

Discover Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio in Bologna, Italy: In the world's oldest university is a stunning 17th century anatomical theater carved from spruce.

Vincent City

Discover Vincent City in Lecce, Italy: An eccentric artist's abode in this small Italian town has been transformed into a surreal temple of mosaic madness.

Fondazione Prada

Discover Fondazione Prada in Milan, Italy: A space dedicated to contemporary art and culture, co-chaired by fashion icon Miuccia Prada.

Arte Sella

Discover Arte Sella in Borgo Valsugana, Italy: An open-air museum in a mountain valley features works designed to blend in with—and disintegrate back into—their natural surroundings.

Il Castello Incantato

Discover Il Castello Incantato in Sciacca, Italy: A madman's personal garden filled with 1,000 sculpted heads.

Stromboli Island

Discover Stromboli Island in Stromboli, Italy: A volcanic old faithful, Stromboli has been erupting continuously for the last 2000 years.

Ponte della Maddalena

Discover Ponte della Maddalena in Borgo a Mozzano, Italy: A stunning bridge that appears as if it's lunging to the shore, and has a legend of a devilish architect.

Phlegraean Fields

Discover Phlegraean Fields in Pozzuoli, Italy: A sulfuric hellscape in southern Italy.

Saint Catherine of Bologna

Discover Saint Catherine of Bologna in Bologna, Italy: The mummified relic of St. Catherine sits forever on a golden throne.

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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

PP ToS