There’s A Town In Italy That Resembles A Human
If someone were drifting far above Earth and glanced down at Sicily, they might catch something interesting. The island’s ridges feature a town that, when seen from the sky, outlines the figure of a human being with head, arms, and legs stretched out.
On the ground, it’s an ordinary village with winding alleys, terraced rooftops, and glimpses of Mount Etna in the distance. Photographer and local drone pilot Pio Andrea Peri first pieced the shape together in 2021 after noticing it on Google Earth. Could it really be a coincidence?
Viral Reactions And Fact Checks
Image via Getty Images/kanariie
Limited by drone height restrictions, Peri stitched together around 18 separate shots. His effort confirmed what he suspected: his hometown looked like a person. The photos quickly caught attention online. Many users praised the strange layout, while some accused Peri of editing. That skepticism faded when people pulled up the town on Google Earth themselves and saw the resemblance firsthand.
What viewers actually spot depends on perspective. Some say they see a man lying flat, others say it looks more like a starfish. This new attention even reached the local government.
Centuripe’s mayor invited Peri to stage an exhibition of his photos and give the residents a chance to see their town in a whole new light. For many locals, the recognition brought pride as their familiar home setting suddenly became something strangers around the world wanted to talk about.
How The Shape Came To Be
The human-like form wasn’t a master plan. Centuripe’s design traces back through centuries of rebuilding, especially after the town was destroyed in the 13th century and later reestablished in the 1500s. It was built across five ridges, and the sections naturally stretch outward from a center while forming the limbs visible from the air. The terraced buildings follow the contours of the hills, which further reinforces the pattern.
The town’s elevation of about 2,400 feet (730 meters) above sea level added both defense and beauty. Giuseppe Garibaldi once called it “the balcony of Sicily,” referring to its sweeping views over the valley below.
From its edges, visitors can see Mount Etna rising in the distance, with smoke and ash often visible from eruptions. That dramatic view may be common to locals, but it adds an extra appeal for visitors drawn in by the town’s curious outline.
More Than A Viral Shape
Image via Getty Images/Simon Skafar
Aside from its striking aerial fame, Centuripe carries deep historical roots. It was a prominent site in the Greek and Roman eras, later used as a stronghold during World War II, and today holds one of the largest collections of Roman artifacts in Sicily at its regional archaeological museum. The scattered ruins, ancient necropolises, and Roman baths predate the viral moment by over two thousand years.
So while the internet may label it “the town shaped like a human,” there’s more to it than just that.