Located under the streets of Italy are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of long since forgotten tunnels and buildings. Having been abandoned and built upon long ago, citizens often find hidden treasures of history located within the depths of their own homes, behind hidden doors and stairways that have gone undiscovered for decades. It is a part of Italy’s legacy, and one that is unknown to many outsides who have never visited the country.
But one man went beyond the usual mystery associates with these secret locations, and began to build his own modern legend: the Temples of Damanhur. Stemming from what he claims are visions he has had since he was a young boy, Oberto Airaudi (also known as ‘Falco’) has created an underground world of wonder and beauty, a temple consisting of several rooms filled with towering pillars, arches, and some incredible works of art, spanning from one wall to the next.

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The Temple of Damanhur tells the story of what Airaudi calls ‘the history of humanity’, told with bright, colorful pictures and symbols that cover every surface of the three dimensional storybook, spanning over an incredible 300,000 cubic feet. The effect creates nine separate temples located on five different levels, each as complex as the next.

But it isn’t just the size and breathtaking beauty of the tunnels that have created a wide spread sense of awe in what people have begun calling the ‘Eighth Wonder Of The World”. It’s the fact that this enormous masterpiece of underground Italy was done completely by Airaudi, by hand (and by secret), over an entire lifetime. From the giant glass dome of the Hall of Mirrors, to the supernaturally based Hall of Earth, it is an incredible feat of human ingenuity and dedication.

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The Temples of Damanhur were discovered as part of a police raid on the home, during an investigation into allegations of tax evasion. They were aware that building had been going on without proper permission or tax forms, and were adamant about being allowed to enter, to see what it was that was being created under that Italian hillside. What they saw shocked them to the core.
Entering into the Hall of Earth, and seeing the beauty of the artworks surrounding the excavated chamber, it couldn’t have been more clear that they had not expected anything close to what they had found. The police officer’s only became more awed as they continued through, and as the group left the temples, they shakily told Airaudi that he could continue creating his works of art, but that further excavation must immediately be ceased until proper planning permission could be sought.

As a consequence of that first discovery, the Temples of Damanahur have been opened up to the public, and people from all over the world have been flocking to the home of Oberto Airaudi to share in the inspiration of his masterpiece. The vast expanse of his work itself, as well as the interest it has sparked in both local, and International communities, has made it one of the greatest artistic accomplishments of the day, and the temples have sparked a religious movement known as the “Damanhurians”, who, while not worshiping any actual spiritual force, have become one of the fastest growing meditational groups in the world.

When asked about his own creation, Oberto Airaudi had only this to say:

“They are to remind people that we are all capable of much more than we realize and that hidden treasures can be found within every one of us once you know how to access them.”

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