Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Italy House on Rock
AO Edited

House on Rock

This house certainly has a unique decor.

Dezzo, Italy

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
House on Rock   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
House on Rock   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
House on Rock   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
House on Rock   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
House on Rock   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
House on Rock   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Val di Scalve is peppered with tiny mountain villages, and Dezzo di Scalve is one of the smallest. Divided by the River Dezzo, half of the village falls under the Colere commonality, and the other half under Azzone, which makes Dezzo di Scalve an administrative anomaly. 

On each side of the village is a row of attached houses as is common in the area. However, the row on the eastern side stands out, as one of the houses is built on top of a massive boulder. The two houses on the left and right of the boulder are built around its contour.

Dezzo di Scalve was one of the villages located along the destructive force of the River Dezzo when the Gleno Dam collapsed in 1923. Historical pictures of Dezzo di Scalve in the aftermath of the disaster show a village that was almost completely washed away. Among the few houses left standing are those that were constructed in and around the rock. \

Given its immediate surrounding, it is safe to speculate that the boulder probably rolled down from the mountain, which rises steeply behind the village, but there is no record as to how or when this happened. The same holds true for its incorporation into the architecture of the village. 

The oldest record of Dezzo di Scalve consists of a report compiled by a land surveyor in 1586 and it includes a drawing of the village. A prominent feature of the drawing is the same boulder, surrounded by a fortress and a cluster of houses. This means that the boulder has been an integral part of this village for more than 400 years.

Related Tags

Nature Houses Rock Formations
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Italy: Roman Carbonara, Florentine Steak & Venetian Cocktails

Savor local cuisine across Rome, Florence & Venice.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Published

November 12, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
House on Rock
Dezzo, 24020
Italy
45.978249, 10.102293

Nearby Places

Via Mala

Colere, Italy

miles away

Gleno Dam

Vilminore di Scalve, Italy

miles away

Museo dell’Illuminazione Mineraria

Schilpario, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Nearby Places

Via Mala

Colere, Italy

miles away

Gleno Dam

Vilminore di Scalve, Italy

miles away

Museo dell’Illuminazione Mineraria

Schilpario, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,054
Stories 110

Related Places

  • After extensive renovations in the 1990s, the mine was opened to the public.

    Scotia, Nebraska

    Happy Jack Chalk Mine

    After sitting abandoned for decades, this historic mine is now the only publicly accessible chalk room and pillar mine in North America.

  • Thar she blows!

    East End, Cayman Islands

    The Blowholes

    This natural rock formation spouts jets of water into the air.

  • Mexican Hat

    Mexican Hat, Utah

    Mexican Hat

    This balancing rock is one of Utah's most unusual geological formations.

  • Smith Rock State Park

    Terrebonne, Oregon

    Smith Rock State Park

    Spectacular volcanic cliffs along the Crooked River invite hiking, rock climbing, and photography.

  • Tisá, Czechia

    Tiské Stěny

    Towering sandstone rock formations where 'The Chronicles of Narnia' was filmed.

  • Explore Litchfield

    Litchfield Park, Australia

    Magnetic Termite Mounds

    Let these towering termite-building structures tell you where to go.

  • Granite Skywalk

    Porongurup, Australia

    Castle Rock

    A metal skywalk leads to the top of this striking granite outcrop in Porongurup National Park.

  • a group of them

    Tirolo, Italy

    Erdpyramide in Tirol

    These unique "earth pyramid" clay columns can be found in ravines around the village of Tirolo.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.