The Trulli of Alberobello

Southern Italy contains a wide range of historical sites, religious structures and natural areas that take visitors through more than two millennia of cultural history. The region holds Greek temples such as the Temple of Hera at Metaponto, medieval fortresses including Castello Aragonese in Taranto and Rocca Calascio in Abruzzo, and religious complexes like the Santuario di Monte Sant'Angelo, an important pilgrimage site since the early Middle Ages. Underground catacombs in Naples and Palermo, rock churches in Matera and the Cripta del Peccato Originale show the development of Christian art and architecture. The natural environment ranges from marine protected areas like Riserva Marina di Punta Campanella on the Campanian coast to the Tremiti Islands in the Adriatic. Inland landscapes include Parco Nazionale d'Aspromonte in Calabria, the erosive Calanchi di Aliano in Basilicata and Cavagrande del Cassibile in Sicily. Coastal formations such as the Arco Naturale near Palinuro and sea caves like Grotta della Poesia at Roca Vecchia add to the geographic variety. Cities including Matera with its sassi districts, Lecce with baroque palaces and the Quartieri Spagnoli in Naples illustrate different urban developments. This collection centers on the area around Alberobello, whose trulli structures have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

Architecture does not have to follow straight lines and right angles. This collection presents buildings that stand out through their form: domes, spirals, tilted facades or organic structures that recall animals or plants. From Gaudí's mosaic covered works in Barcelona to the stacked concrete cubes of Habitat 67 in Montreal or the conical trulli of Alberobello, these structures demonstrate alternative approaches to construction. Some emerged from technical necessity, such as the temporary cardboard cathedral in Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake. Others are artistic statements: the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao with its titanium plates, the Dancing House in Prague or the cubist houses in Rotterdam. In Đà Lạt, the Crazy House transforms tree trunks and caves into habitable spaces, while the Atomium in Brussels represents a magnified iron crystal. These structures attract visitors but also raise questions about function and livability. The Longaberger Basket Building in Ohio takes the form of a seven story basket. The Lotus Temple in New Delhi uses concrete shells to form 27 petals. The Aldar headquarters in Abu Dhabi resembles a circular coin. These buildings expand the definition of what architecture can be.

Italy preserves numerous historical sites away from standard tourist routes, ranging from medieval hill towns to Etruscan burial grounds. These locations document different periods of Italian history through architecture, art and natural settings. The collection includes Roman archaeological sites such as Palazzo Valentini Domus Romane, where ancient townhouses remain beneath modern streets, and Basilica di San Clemente, which displays three construction phases built one above another. In southern Italy, the Sassi of Matera show cave dwellings from prehistoric times, while the Crypt of the Original Sin presents early Christian frescoes from the 8th century. The architectural variety ranges from the conical trulli houses in Alberobello to the Moorish inspired rooms of Sammezzano Castle. Civita di Bagnoregio sits on a tufa rock plateau separated from surrounding land by erosion. The Greek Theatre of Taormina and the Temple of Concordia in Agrigento document the ancient Greek presence in Sicily. Natural formations such as Grotta Azzurra on Capri and the thermal springs of Saturnia complement the historical structures. The sites spread across the entire country, from the Alps to the Aeolian Islands.

Italy preserves architectural evidence from two thousand years of history. In Rome, Roman temples stand beside Renaissance palaces, while Florence houses museums and cathedrals from the 15th century. Venice developed its canal system over centuries as a response to its lagoon environment. In the Campania region, Mount Vesuvius shapes the landscape, and the ancient city of Pompeii has remained preserved under volcanic ash since the 1st century.