Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
about 1 month ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
about 1 month ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
about 1 month ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
about 1 month ago

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 The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle
AO Edited

The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle

Statues portraying anatomical deformities were placed in this garden to foster ethical behavior.

Urgnano, Italy

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Not far, another grotesque guards the tower   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
  Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Urgnano Castle was constructed in 1354 as a military outpost, but the existence of something akin to a fortress on the same location was attested by a document dating back to 1016. Several families owned the castle, but it was the Albani family in the 1400s that turned it into the stately mansion that can be seen today. The castle is currently in the hands of the Urgnano municipality. 

Urgano Castle ticks all the boxes of a fantasy castle, including a moat (now dry), a drawbridge, and convoluted underground labyrinths. It's also said that several grisly events took place within its walls. To top it off, there is a mysterious figure in one of the paintings that is rumored to be none other than Leonardo da Vinci, who came to Urgnano to study the defensive mechanisms of the castle.

All of this would already make Urgnano Castle worth a visit. Yet, it's the roof garden that holds something truly special. A gravel passage leading to the fountain is fronted by nine statues of dwarves with anatomical deformities, each representing a human weakness or vice, such as wrath, fastidiousness, greed, conceit, and gluttony. 

This practice was common in the 1700s in this part of the world. This type of sculpture is known as a grotesque. The representation of a negative concept through an exaggerated representation of a person’s physical features was supposed to induce a sense of repulsion in the viewer.

Related Tags

Statues History & Culture Castles Sculptures
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

October 5, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
The Grotesques of Urgnano Castle
108 Via Rocca
Urgnano, 24059
Italy
45.598801, 9.694544
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Church of San Rocco

Romano di Lombardia, Italy

miles away

Church of San Bernardino

Lallio, Italy

miles away

Sator Square

Brusaporto, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,071
Stories 111

Nearby Places

Church of San Rocco

Romano di Lombardia, Italy

miles away

Church of San Bernardino

Lallio, Italy

miles away

Sator Square

Brusaporto, Italy

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Italy

Italy

Europe

Places 1,071
Stories 111

Related Stories and Lists

Gorgeous Grotesques with the Places Team

Podcast

By The Podcast Team

Related Places

  • Chocolate Orange

    York, England

    Terry's Chocolate Orange Sculpture

    A unique tribute to the chocolatey past that helped shape one British city.

  • ‘The Fat Policeman’

    Budapest, Hungary

    ‘The Fat Policeman’

    Also known as Uncle Karl, the beloved bronze copper keeps a watchful eye on St. Stephen’s Basilica while people rub his lucky belly.

  • David Livingstone Statue

    Blantyre, Scotland

    David Livingstone Statue

    The only statue ever crafted by award-winning animator Ray Harryhausen.

  • Bishop Rosendo Salvado Statue

    Subiaco, Australia

    Bishop Rosendo Salvado Statue

    Dedicated to the founder of "New Norcia."

  • Urbs Prima In Indis

    Mumbai, India

    'Urbs Prima In Indis'

    Mumbai's angel.

  • The Newspaper Reader

    Lancaster, Pennsylvania

    'Newspaper Reader'

    This iconic Lancaster everyman has been reading the same story since 1980.

  • Statue of Patsy Ann

    Juneau, Alaska

    Patsy Ann Statue

    Known as the “Official Greeter of Juneau,” this dog still welcomes ships and their passengers to Alaska.

  • Griffith J. Griffith Statue

    Los Angeles, California

    Griffith J. Griffith Statue

    Although he donated over 3,000 acres to Los Angles, Griffith's life was marred by controversy.

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.