La Scarzuola, which is a surreal architectural complex located in Montegabbione hamlet in the comune of Montegabbione, Terni Province, Italy. It was originally the site of a 13th-century convent associated with St. Francis of Assisi, but was partially abandoned in the 19th century. In 1956, architect Tomaso Buzzi acquired the property and began to transform it into his vision of an “ideal city”. The compound is a blend of reality and surrealist architecture, incorporating structures and details from classical to medieval and even Renaissance architecture, all tied together by overarching neomannerist elements such as stairways leading in multiple directions, general unbalance and disproportion, and monstrous and fantastical design elements. The core of the Città Ideale is formed by seven theaters, representing Buzzi’s notion that the ideal life (and the mysterious initiations associated with it) is inherently and symbolically theatrical. The compound also includes multiple grottos and reflecting pools and is surmounted by an “Acropolis” that consists of a riot of buildings all piled together (including many reproductions — the Arc de Triomphe, the Temple of Vesta, the Parthenon, etc.), which are mostly empty inside, save for stairways and inner bridges. Each work is carefully constructed to represent the inner thoughts of the artist, as well as a blend of the philosophical tenets that guided his life.
If you’re interested in visiting La Scarzuola, please note that visits are only conducted by booking a paid guided tour (with eclectic owner who only conducts tours in Italian) in advance. A minimum group of 10 people is required for booking. To book, contact the owner via email or phone.
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