Just outside the small village of Corris, Wales, among the lush green backdrop, one may come to notice a collection of small buildings. On closer inspection, you can see the structures are miniatures of some of Italy’s most famous landmarks, including Florence’s Duomo, Venice’s Rialto Bridge, as well as Rome’s Mouth of Truth. There is even a small-scale version of Michelangelo’s David.
These mini replicas are collectively known to the locals as “Little Italy.” These tiny Italian Renaissance architectural wonders are the work of local resident Mark Bourne. For several decades, Bourne has been taking sojourns to this beloved Mediterranean country, where he makes detailed sketches. Upon his return, he and his wife Muriel have meticulously recreated these fantastical structures.
It has been estimated that there are around 200 individual structures. Besides the aforementioned landmarks, there is also a cat cemetery, a tiny English village, and a version of a Venetian canal with running water. The couple would gather water from the nearby Afon Deri River below and mix it with concrete before covering chicken wire to make their creations. The entire construction and attached residential cottage have been put into a trust to see that the site is maintained and kept for future generations to admire.
