La Scarzuola

Image source: Pinterest

Nestled in the Montegiove hamlet of Montegabbione in Terni, Italy, La Scarzuola is an architectural marvel that combines history, symbolism, and surrealism. Originally the site of a 13th-century convent linked to St. Francis of Assisi, the area was largely abandoned by the 19th century. In 1957, Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi acquired the land and set out to transform it into a visionary complex, integrating the remnants of the old convent into a multifaceted design that reflects his interpretation of an ideal city, infused with esoteric and alchemical symbolism.

La Scarzuola is home to seven amphitheaters of varying sizes, each symbolizing the theatrical nature of life. Among its striking structures are a massive stone torso representing lust, a miniature Tower of Babel embodying vanity, and a small city filled with iconic buildings like the Temple of Vesta, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Torre dell'Orologio in Mantua. Together, these elements paint a surreal portrait of Buzzi’s imagined utopia. Image source: Pinterest

Tomaso Buzzi was a multifaceted architect, designer, and restorer whose contributions to art and architecture remain significant despite his relative obscurity today. Graduating from Milan Polytechnic in 1923, he played a key role in major artistic and urban planning events, including the Forma Urbis Mediolani project. He co-founded the influential design association "Il Labirinto" in 1927 and collaborated with the magazine Domus and the Venini glassworks in Venice. His restoration projects ranged from Villa Maser in Treviso to Palazzo Papadopoli in Venice, showcasing his belief that an architect should be like an orchestra conductor. Buzzi also designed furniture, ceramics, and decorative objects, catering to the Italian nobility and upper middle class. Though he withdrew from publishing in the late 1930s, his work includes prestigious residences and embassy renovations.

Though Buzzi spent over two decades working on La Scarzuola project, he passed away in 1981, leaving his dream unfinished. His nephew, Marco Solari, later completed the complex, which now stands as a fascinating destination for visitors to explore Buzzi's extraordinary vision.

In 2020, the dreamlike quality of La Scarzuola caught the eye of fashion brand Gucci, who selected the site as the backdrop for its Bloom campaign, further driving attention to La Scarzuola - the place which reminds us of the the art of dreaming big.