La Scarzuola
July 28, 2018 12:22 PM   Subscribe

Deep in Italy, One Man’s Surrealist Mini-City Sleeps. t’s a labyrinthine citadel more surreal than even the weirdest of Fellini sets. “La Scarzuola” is a modern wannabe-Utopian estate imagined by one man and built amongst the pointy trees of Italy’s Montegabbione in the 1950s. This esoteric wonderland and its elaborate surrealist structures are awaiting your visit. It's what happens when an idealistic Milanese architect, Tomaso Buzzi, finds a ruin.
posted by MovableBookLady (10 comments total) 36 users marked this as a favorite
 
messynessy is a treasure...
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 2:12 PM on July 28, 2018 [2 favorites]


Something straight out of a Dungeons and Dragons adventure.
posted by remo at 2:30 PM on July 28, 2018


This tucked-away outsider-gesamtkunst-wonder is really quite amazing; visiting it also means getting a full dose of his nephew Marco, a singular guide to the property’s ins and outs. He inhabits and interprets the place like its bantering, sharp-witted goblin; if you get the chance, it’s a harmonious bizarroscape to experience, before it all goes up in a puff of smoke.
posted by progosk at 3:42 PM on July 28, 2018 [4 favorites]


I need to go here, as a counterpoint to my long-ago visit to Bomarzo. Crazy monster faces in stone are my jam.
posted by PussKillian at 4:39 PM on July 28, 2018 [1 favorite]


All of my puzzle-island video game training has prepared me to visit this place.
posted by mhoye at 6:55 PM on July 28, 2018 [8 favorites]


I WANT TO GO TO THERE
posted by The Underpants Monster at 7:53 PM on July 28, 2018


Man, imagine if the prisoner remake had been set in this place.
posted by Berreggnog at 2:49 AM on July 29, 2018 [1 favorite]


It's halfway between Florence and Rome, for anyone who's interested. I looked it up.

I was also reminded of Portmeirion. And Damanhur. Any others?
posted by Grangousier at 3:00 AM on July 29, 2018


The opening photo of what looks like a mouth entranceway reminded me of this similar one from half way round the world at this amazing and kooky sculpture park/devotional art piece called Wat Khaek near Nong Khai, North east Thailand.
posted by bonobothegreat at 3:48 AM on July 29, 2018


Not only can you see the whole complex quite clearly in Google Maps, but it features about half a dozen 360° panoramic photos of various spots. Just drag the little yellow pegman figure in the bottom-right and drop it onto one of the blue dots on the map. Beautiful!

mhoye: "All of my puzzle-island video game training has prepared me to visit this place."

I finally got around to playing The Talos Principle a few months back -- it's remarkable how similar this place is to the game's opening Greco-Roman levels. Wouldn't be surprised if it was an influence.
posted by Rhaomi at 2:09 AM on July 30, 2018


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