Amazing Places

The Temples Of Humankind Were Built By Believers In Secret

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Can you imagine building a structure without someone finding out? That's exactly how 150 people built the Temples of Humankind, a sprawling spiritual center in Turin.

Built In Secret

Buried in the foothills of the Italian Alps, the amazing Temples of Humankind contain all sorts of wonders, including a four-sided pyramid with mirrored walls, rows of polished spheres, and a room called "The Hall of Water" shaped like a chalice. Despite being underground, some rooms have ceilings that are more than 25 feet high.

But these intricate spaces weren't built by trained architects or engineers. Instead, followers of Oberto Airaudi, who founded the Federation of Damanhur, built the temples in secret beginning in 1978. In 1992, the Italian government threatened to dynamite the temples upon discovering their existence, but ultimately left them alone. Today, they still reside in the Damanhur commune, about 30 miles north of Turin.

The Damanhur, Temples Of Humankind, a gorgeous series of underground temples in northern Italy.
Image: Alex Jarvis
Image: Alex Jarvis

Damanhur

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Damanhur | 100 Wonders | Atlas Obscura
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Key Facts In This Video

  1. The Damanhur Temples of Humankind were built underground over a period of 15 years by non-architects who worked in secrecy. 00:18

  2. A four-sided pyramid covered in mirrors, a "Hall of Spheres," and intricate murals are just some of the wonders found inside the Temples of Humankind. 01:04

  3. One of the fundamental philosophies of Damanhur is that people can accomplish far more than they believe they are capable of. 02:30

Written by Curiosity Staff April 12, 2016