Archives: Atlas Obscuras

Neptune’s Grotto

Discover Neptune's Grotto in Alghero, Italy: Stalactites and stalagmites in a beautifully lit cave.

San Bernardino alle Ossa

Discover San Bernardino alle Ossa in Milan, Italy: An ossuary built in 1210 to collect bones from the Ospedale Maggiore of Milan.

The Flooded Crypt of San Zaccaria

Discover The Flooded Crypt of San Zaccaria in Venice, Italy: As can be expected from a centuries old church built in a canal city, the undercroft of this house of worship is beautifully flooded.

Buontalenti Grotta

Discover Buontalenti Grotta in Florence, Italy: A large grotto built in the 16th century amidst Florence's famous Boboli gardens.

St. Valentine’s Skull

Discover St. Valentine's Skull in Rome, Italy: The skull of the patron saint of lovers lies in the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin—maybe.

The Colossus of Villa Demidoff

Discover The Colossus of Villa Demidoff in Vaglia, Italy: Renaissance villa and gardens complete with a tormented colossus.

Via Appia

Discover Via Appia in Rome, Italy: 2300-year-old Roman road connecting the empire.

Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy

Discover Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence, Italy: The oldest operating pharmacy in the world features 800-year-old recipes.

Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte

Discover Santa Maria dell'Orazione e Morte in Rome, Italy: At the crypt of St. Mary of Eulogies and the Dead you are left alone to ponder mortality among piles of skulls.

Michelangelo’s Hidden Drawings

Discover Michelangelo's Hidden Drawings in Florence, Italy: The doodles of a genius line the walls of a secret room under the Medici Chapel.

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.

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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