March 14, 2023

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY  Who Built This Necropolis?  For years, the Great Pantheon Pantheon, a two-level labyrinth of crypts, tunnels, and sunken gardens tucked within Buenos Aires’s largest cemetery, was either overlooked entirely or attributed to the famed brutalist Clorindo Testa. But the real architect behind the midcentury marvel was Ítala Fulvia Villa, a female architect whose name and contributions were nearly forgotten—until now. READ MORE →   UNUSUAL HOBBIES The Collector of Place Names For years, Vidar Haslum grew up hearing his father’s stories about his hometown, which contained evocative names like Vaskarbakken (“Washer Hill”) and Trollhola (“Troll’s Cave”). These naming conventions are unusual for our modern day and age; most of us don’t think of geographical features as having specific names. But to geographers, linguists and historians, toponymy—the study of place names—can reveal much about who we are and how we got here. And to Haslum, losing these names is nothing short of tragic. READ MORE →   TOLEDO, SPAIN The Smallest Window in the World This window is located at 6 Sillería street, specifically on the wall of the Casón de Los López. Once a large Toledo home, the building dates back to the 16th century, and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it does indeed contain the smallest window in the world. The actual function of this small window is still unknown. READ MORE →   ATLAS OBSCURA COURSES The Monuments Men and Women How did the millions of cultural objects stolen by the Nazis during WWII return to their rightful owners once the conflict was over, and who’s continuing the search for lost art today? Join Anna Bottinelli, president of the Monuments Men and Women Foundation, to learn about the Monuments Men and Women of WWII, a group of scholars-turned-soldiers who volunteered during the most destructive war in history to preserve our shared cultural heritage. ENROLL NOW →   SUR-PI-SE 20 Pies for Pi Day Your feelings about mathematical constants may vary, but the love of pie remains steadfast and enduring. Take your pick from this selection, which ranges from a fishy surprise to a pickle pie. Our pie-mary concern is that at least one of these 20 pies will sate every appetite. Q.E.D. READ MORE →   NATURAL PHENOMENA How Microbes Transform Our World What do you know about bacteria? Likely you’re envisioning bacterial infections, or just a film of microbes covering the outside world. Bacteria can get a bad rap, but in fact, bacteria can be pretty useful in the natural world, including but not limited to preventing erosion, undergirding ecosystems, and making artificial snow. READ MORE →   THE ATLAS OBSCURA PODCAST The World Beneath In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, writer Jessica Leigh Hester joins us on a deep dive into the sewer, the subject of her new book, Sewer. We’ll talk about some of the interesting (and disgusting) things she found there … like fatbergs. LISTEN ON OUR SITE →    LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS →    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY →    LISTEN ON STITCHER →   ATLAS OBSCURA PUZZLES A New English Alphabet One cause passionately embraced by Irish dramatist George Bernard Shaw—generally considered one of the greatest playwrights in the English language—was the very contentious matter of spelling reform. Yu red that rite! He left money in his will for the creation and promotion of an alphabet, which resulted in the Bernard Shaw Alphabet, or “Shavian.” Can you solve this linguistic puzzle? READ MORE →   GEORGIA Churchkhela The unfamiliar visitor to the Caucasus may not recognize a cluster of warm, jewel-toned churchkhela. Georgians create these cylindrical candies by threading walnuts, almonds, or hazelnuts—and occasionally fruit such as raisins or dried peaches or plums—along a string. Then, they repeatedly dip the strand in a mixture of concentrated grape juice, sugar, and flour, building up layers of thick, waxy fruit syrup. READ MORE →