Architectural Oddities in Italy

This Volcano-like rest area was designed by architect Giulio Ceppi built according to energy efficiency and ecological footprint standards.

The "floating factory" was a highlight in the career of the Italian architect known for his unusual use of reinforced concrete.

In the 1940s, Italian architect Mario Cavallè built a dozen of these round homes in northern Milan.

Inside the small garden of two mid-century apartment buildings stands a centuries-old bell tower, separated from its original church and hidden from view.

This brightly-colored chapel is a contemporary jewel standing in the middle of a La Morra vineyard.

A hidden bas-relief of a hare on a church main portal that brings good luck to the ones who find it.

These pillars at the main entrance of this church are actually a hidden musical instrument.

A medieval house with mysterious alchemical inscriptions on its facade

This unusually shaped fortress houses a blend of centuries-old frescoes and modern art.

Legend says this mysterious stone head belongs to a woman who was petrified by an alchemist.

This cliff-face port is considered a masterpiece of mining engineering.

A detailed pachyderm supports Rome's smallest Egyptian obelisk.

This building has a giant piercing through one of its corners.

A cone-shaped top and cylindrical body set this 900-year-old structure apart from other Italian bell towers.

Skulls and skeletons are omnipresent in this church dedicated to souls trapped in purgatory.

Three underground crypts and a pointed arch under the bell tower make this cathedral unique among Romanesque churches.