An enchanting theatrical landscape and “ideal city” created by architect Tomaso Buzzi in the Umbrian countryside, blending legend, Renaissance ideals, and architectural fantasy.
At a glance
La Scarzuola is a remarkable artistic complex in the hamlet of Montegiove, combining two historic buildings with an extraordinary constructed landscape. Architect and landscape designer Tomaso Buzzi transformed the surrounding parkland into a visionary “ideal city” featuring seven theaters and monumental structures, creating an immersive theatrical environment unlike anywhere else in the region.
History
According to local legend, St. Francis founded a hermitage at this site in 1218, building a hut from scarza—a marsh plant that once grew here. Medieval tradition held that he planted a rose and laurel, from which a miraculous fountain emerged.
The two original buildings survived centuries until Milanese architect Tomaso Buzzi acquired the property. Between 1958 and 1978, Buzzi orchestrated an ambitious expansion, designing and constructing an elaborate “ideal city” around the convent as a personal architectural manifesto. After his death, his nephew Marco Solari completed the vision.
What you see
The complex centers on two restored historic structures overlooking a theatrical landscape of seven theaters and monumental forms. Buzzi’s design creates a sophisticated play of perspectives, stonework, and spatial sequences—what he termed a “stone anthology.”
The architectural vocabulary draws from Renaissance ideals of perfect cities while maintaining a dreamlike, surreal quality. Paths wind through the park, revealing unexpected vistas, constructed grottoes, and sculptural elements that transform the natural topography into an extended work of art.
Cultural significance
La Scarzuola represents a singular achievement in 20th-century visionary architecture and landscape design. Buzzi’s creation stands apart from conventional restoration or development, instead proposing an entirely new aesthetic framework rooted in theatrical principles and utopian urbanism.
The site preserves both its legendary connection to St. Francis and its modern artistic reinterpretation, making it a unique testimony to how historical sites can be reanimated through contemporary creative vision. Few projects demonstrate such commitment to transforming landscape into inhabited art.
Key facts
- Address: Via Vocabolo Caporlese, 45, Montegabbione (TR)
- Coordinates: 42.8988385, 12.1519117
- Phone: 0763 837463
- Website: https://www.lascarzuola.it/
- Creator: Tomaso Buzzi (1900–1981), Milanese architect and landscape architect
Practical information
La Scarzuola is open to visitors by arrangement; consult the official website for current hours, admission fees, and guided tour availability. The site is situated in rural Umbria and requires planning ahead. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for exploring the extensive park and theatrical spaces.
Getting there
La Scarzuola lies in the municipality of Montegabbione in the province of Terni, approximately 15 kilometers from the town of Montegabbione. You can reach it by car via regional roads from Terni or nearby towns. Public transport options are limited; a rental car is advisable for visiting this rural location.
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