The Unusual Italian Village In Wales

Walking into this little village feels as if you've been transported to Italy, but in fact, you're not even close. Tucked away on the coast of northern Wales is the village of Portmeirion, a truly unique town built with a colorful, whimsical design and an eye for conservation. Built between 1925 and 1975 by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Portmeirion became a home for lost building parts, such as taking the stones of a demolished castle to make a town clock tower. But the most striking part of the town is the integration of nature with the town's colorful architecture, modifying nearly every single building to work with the nearby terrain. Join Bridget Barbara from ‪@TheCuriousWorld‬ and Atlas Obscura as we explore this unusual Welsh town.
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Пікірлер: 114

  • @bkimbar
    @bkimbar4 жыл бұрын

    The narrator doesn't mention that everything is smaller scale than normal and that you can purchase Portmeirion pottery there. The company is based in Stoke-on-Trent, England and the pottery designer is Susan Williams-Ellis, daughter of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who created the village.

  • @WebertHest
    @WebertHest4 жыл бұрын

    Be seeing you.

  • @foxthx1138

    @foxthx1138

    4 жыл бұрын

    WebertHest gets it👍

  • @hcurtisshannon

    @hcurtisshannon

    4 жыл бұрын

    And you...

  • @evanhughes7609
    @evanhughes76094 жыл бұрын

    My wife and I visited in 2009 while honeymooning in the UK. Cannot recommend it highly enough, well worth a detour!

  • @brianjohns49
    @brianjohns494 жыл бұрын

    Absolutely incredible, though Wales is a scenic beauty unto its own. What an incredible work of architecture not to mention, a great video that tickles our curiosity I might add. Portmeirion is like the House of Aberffraw meets Antoni Gaudí meets Michelangelo with a bit of Lewis Caroll thrown in for good measure. It's so much better when the arts and colour are used as sparks for the senses rather than chains for the mind. Thank you for a great video!

  • @johnwaldo2731
    @johnwaldo27314 жыл бұрын

    'I am not a number; I am a free man,' said Patrick McGoohan in 1969

  • @allanmurphy5273
    @allanmurphy52734 жыл бұрын

    On my bucket list for many years. Be seeing you.

  • @AtalienaFhang
    @AtalienaFhang4 жыл бұрын

    More from this host please! My favorite so far

  • @briseyk1
    @briseyk14 жыл бұрын

    Visited in the 80's . Basically abandoned, rusty, needing work. Just walked in. They were trying to work out whether it was financially viable or knock it down. Went last year happy to see they made the right choice.

  • @rolfathan
    @rolfathan4 жыл бұрын

    The integration of the cliffs is absolutely amazing.

  • @hawksgull9911
    @hawksgull99114 жыл бұрын

    "You are number six!" Love this charming village. Lovely reporting, Atlas Obscura!

  • @peruprofundodance
    @peruprofundodance4 жыл бұрын

    would love to visit this village! thanks atlas, for bringing this wonderful place to light!

  • @kymberlyp4056

    @kymberlyp4056

    4 жыл бұрын

    I agree, ron s. It is a truly wonderful place and full of beauty.

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    Erm, it's pretty famous already. One cult TV series and also a hangout of the Beatles.

  • @dianekinnicutt784

    @dianekinnicutt784

    4 жыл бұрын

    Make sure that you visit when the flowers are in bloom. I have gone twice and in late July it seemed like it was already starting to fade for the fall. Late June was perfection.

  • @kymberlyp4056

    @kymberlyp4056

    4 жыл бұрын

    Diane Kinnicutt ~ Thank you.

  • @anonb4632
    @anonb46324 жыл бұрын

    Well worth visiting. I felt it was a bit pricey but it was one of the rare occasions I didn't mind coughing up. I was in seventh heaven the whole time I was there.

  • @NotSpockToo
    @NotSpockToo4 жыл бұрын

    We visited Portmeirion a couple of years ago and stayed in one of the apartments that overlook the plaza and chessboard. We made sure to watch the opening sequence of The Prisoner while there and paused when we saw the apartment we were in. Number 6's apartment is a gift shop and there is a nice bronze bust of Patrick McGoohan in a niche in a wall that you'll see as you walk around. Even though we went because we are fans of The Prisoner you don't need to be one to visit. It's an amazing place, very beautiful with lots of beautiful walks and interesting buildings. The village is ery busy during the day, but at night it's very quiet. It was fun to walk around and really enjoy the architecture. The only thing missing was a white ball rising out of the water! Be seeing you.

  • @MMitchellMarmel
    @MMitchellMarmel4 жыл бұрын

    "WHO IS NUMBER ONE?"

  • @strictures

    @strictures

    4 жыл бұрын

    As long as you're not the new Number 2, you're OK.

  • @MMitchellMarmel

    @MMitchellMarmel

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@strictures Quate. :)

  • @veronicaa7040

    @veronicaa7040

    4 жыл бұрын

    You are number six

  • @mohammedcohen

    @mohammedcohen

    2 жыл бұрын

    ...YOU are No 6!!!

  • @MMitchellMarmel

    @MMitchellMarmel

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@mohammedcohen I am not a number! I am...hm. Maybe I AM a number, after all. ;^.^

  • @madaug5101
    @madaug51014 жыл бұрын

    Wow, what a beautiful place.

  • @marklevin330
    @marklevin3304 жыл бұрын

    Love that video. I so want to visit this village, so thanks for giving me this glimpse into a place I've never heard of.

  • @searcher57
    @searcher574 жыл бұрын

    was also where they filmed The Prisoner Tv series in the 60,s

  • @susanlee2945

    @susanlee2945

    4 жыл бұрын

    I recognized it right away. What a wonderful place.

  • @ncooty

    @ncooty

    4 жыл бұрын

    @4:05: They explicitly mentioned that.

  • @evanhughes7609

    @evanhughes7609

    4 жыл бұрын

    Be seeing you...

  • @ariellemasters954
    @ariellemasters9544 жыл бұрын

    Fascinating, and so cool :) What fun!

  • @sabbykaur7773
    @sabbykaur77732 жыл бұрын

    This Mini Village looks amazingly beautiful 💖 definitely on my list of places to explore 💃

  • @AimlessAdventuresVlog
    @AimlessAdventuresVlog4 жыл бұрын

    What a wonderful place!

  • @lisacecile3080
    @lisacecile30804 жыл бұрын

    I'd love to visit it!

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    Do! You won't regret it. There are a lot of other things worth visiting near there.

  • @sarahprunierlaw9147
    @sarahprunierlaw91474 жыл бұрын

    what a neat place!

  • @brendakrieger7000
    @brendakrieger70002 жыл бұрын

    Amazing

  • @thelastjedi3259
    @thelastjedi32594 жыл бұрын

    Wales? I live in Wales! What a beautiful small place! :D

  • @thecatalyst8156
    @thecatalyst81564 жыл бұрын

    I'm speechless!

  • @gowithasad
    @gowithasad4 жыл бұрын

    nice great work

  • @guidoferri8683
    @guidoferri86834 жыл бұрын

    It looks like an Italian village under a very little dose of LSD

  • @shannonsofian1534

    @shannonsofian1534

    4 жыл бұрын

    If you ever watched the original show that's very accurate!

  • @ricardo_boutique

    @ricardo_boutique

    4 жыл бұрын

    It looks like Sintra, Portugal

  • @33incognito

    @33incognito

    2 жыл бұрын

    Wanna let me join you? Lol

  • @jmm1233
    @jmm12334 жыл бұрын

    i remember going here , it beautiful place

  • @sergeysimonovqwerty
    @sergeysimonovqwerty3 жыл бұрын

    Очень красиво.

  • @crakkbone
    @crakkbone4 жыл бұрын

    The Muttart in Edmonton, Alberta is a rather curious set of pyramids :) you could check that out.

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    Culross in Fife, Scotland. (Despite the spelling, it is pronounced "koo-ross"). That is another good contender. Also the Pineapple just across the Forth.

  • @florencecopeland4870
    @florencecopeland48703 жыл бұрын

    Loved this. It reminded me a bit of Shimla in Northern India - a British Town built for the Raj for use in the summer.

  • @steveshea9448
    @steveshea94484 жыл бұрын

    Fun look at Portmeirion for a Prisoner fan. Maybe you could track down the Welsh and Cornish sites hinted at in Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series.

  • @hanniffydinn6019
    @hanniffydinn60193 жыл бұрын

    Best PRISON on planet earth! No prisoner can escape! 🤯🤯🤯🤯

  • @randallimai4895
    @randallimai48954 жыл бұрын

    I am not a numba! I am a FREE MAN!

  • @MMitchellMarmel

    @MMitchellMarmel

    4 жыл бұрын

    HA HA HA HA HA!!!

  • @kmart1396
    @kmart13964 жыл бұрын

    Lowkey almost had me crying about BBC's Merlin again til I heard it was the iteration of many a legends with Sam Neill in it but like dammit if Arthurian Legend doesn't have a special place heart now in general

  • @alanrogers7090
    @alanrogers70904 жыл бұрын

    Didn't they film the 1960's British television program, "The Prisoner" in this place? It sure looks like it. I especially remember the giant chess set.

  • @namebrandmason

    @namebrandmason

    4 жыл бұрын

    They talk about this at minute four.

  • @TMJBtv

    @TMJBtv

    2 жыл бұрын

    The island across from it was also used in Merlin for Merlin's Island. I too watched the same video you did

  • @thomasalexander9393
    @thomasalexander93934 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting. She is so cute, love her enthusiasm for discovering.

  • @jaisleenkharoud4266
    @jaisleenkharoud42663 жыл бұрын

    bellisimo

  • @2.7petabytes
    @2.7petabytes3 жыл бұрын

    Number 6 would be proud!

  • @ghrrum
    @ghrrum4 жыл бұрын

    Tell you what, how about Racoon Mountain Caverns out in Chattanooga TN?

  • @DTyrannosaurus
    @DTyrannosaurus4 жыл бұрын

    Also where The Vapors had their weekend con/show/fest last year, which I'm still sad I missed. :( Next year?

  • @gmack930

    @gmack930

    4 жыл бұрын

    The Vapors? As in Turning Japanese?

  • @DTyrannosaurus

    @DTyrannosaurus

    4 жыл бұрын

    G Mack The very same, back together after 30-some years.

  • @sergeysimonovqwerty
    @sergeysimonovqwerty3 жыл бұрын

    Думаю, кроме замка Дракулы, ето еще одно из мест, в которых я бы побывал.

  • @skarrambo1
    @skarrambo14 жыл бұрын

    Bridget is my favourite host. Perfect balance of neutrality and personality, I think. I loved going to Portmeirion as a kid :)

  • @szzukowski
    @szzukowski4 жыл бұрын

    Great video, but I want to buy that guy a bigger shirt.

  • @narelle4868

    @narelle4868

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes. I found his belly peeking out just a bit too distracting. Someone should tell him that it's not a good look. But I did enjoy listening to what he had to say.

  • @mohammedcohen
    @mohammedcohen2 жыл бұрын

    ...fans of the 60s ITC TV series "the Prisoner" will recognize this immediately as "the Village" where NO6 was taken to be be broken down as a human being. "be Seeing You..."

  • @kopynd1
    @kopynd13 жыл бұрын

    number 6 was always nr 1

  • @__hjg__2123
    @__hjg__21234 жыл бұрын

    Who is number one? That would be telling!!!

  • @FabioMMMM
    @FabioMMMM4 жыл бұрын

    The weird thing is that to Italian eyes it is obvious it is made by non-italians. It is a mix of anglosaxon, far north and north to centre Italian styles. not to mention the clock tower, it looks like a bell tower of an Italian church, but where's the church? interesting experiment. surely on my bucket list!

  • @joemoschetta1541

    @joemoschetta1541

    4 жыл бұрын

    i agree paison ,but i guess he tried

  • @ncooty
    @ncooty4 жыл бұрын

    @5:04: I missed the part where you made the case that tourism there is sustainable (whatever that might mean).

  • @glenncamp733

    @glenncamp733

    4 жыл бұрын

    me too

  • @AtalienaFhang

    @AtalienaFhang

    4 жыл бұрын

    sustainable in terms of the tourism money being for a place built on conserving the natural environment and recycling building parts

  • @charlie_marrow
    @charlie_marrow Жыл бұрын

    "A different blue" aka green

  • @joemoschetta1541
    @joemoschetta15414 жыл бұрын

    very nice ,but just go to italy and you ll never want to leave

  • @jwebstersmithii7459
    @jwebstersmithii74593 жыл бұрын

    When people visit they should have to wear an outfit-like the styles seen in The Prisoner. That would really unify the place. Seeing modern people with their terrible style just doesn't look right in such an amusing setting. Costumes would really help make it even more colorful....and ultimately photo-worthy. Force people to have to wear Portmeirion Garb. Or they get chased by the big white balloon. Thems would be the consequences for not having the correct style. :)

  • @Funkopopsstorewalkthroughsunbo
    @Funkopopsstorewalkthroughsunbo3 жыл бұрын

    Diawn

  • @TheChugg11
    @TheChugg114 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for pronouncing ‘scone’ properly!

  • @MeAuntieNora

    @MeAuntieNora

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, minutes after she got a polite correction when she ordered the "sk-own" gelato.

  • @skarrambo1

    @skarrambo1

    4 жыл бұрын

    Correct if you're Welsh or from the right southern part of England :P Midlands guy like me says 'sk-own' over 'sk-on'

  • @annelilianmurphy

    @annelilianmurphy

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@skarrambo1 According to Webster, scones originated in Scotland in the 1500s. Scots pronounce it scone as in gone.

  • @skarrambo1

    @skarrambo1

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@annelilianmurphy Well, nice to know I am with the originators :P

  • @annelilianmurphy

    @annelilianmurphy

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@skarrambo1 Me too!

  • @Funkopopsstorewalkthroughsunbo
    @Funkopopsstorewalkthroughsunbo3 жыл бұрын

    It bloody looks like Lego land lol Diawn

  • @user-ez9is7lb9p
    @user-ez9is7lb9p3 жыл бұрын

    Meanwhile every so often they announce they’re going to build a “garden city” or “garden village” and consistently is a pile of junk and tarmac with a smattering of grass between the identical block houses.

  • @madisonbrightwell6812
    @madisonbrightwell68124 жыл бұрын

    I am not a number I am a free man!

  • @tatechasers2393
    @tatechasers23934 жыл бұрын

    so he was rich

  • @alveolate
    @alveolate4 жыл бұрын

    omg that guy's gut is hanging out so much...

  • @sarina5352
    @sarina5352 Жыл бұрын

    I wish I could swap it with London Chaos life 😢😢😢😢😢

  • @tomhamilton1562
    @tomhamilton15624 жыл бұрын

    Prisoner number 6

  • @Wolfiins
    @Wolfiins4 жыл бұрын

    sorry but this doesnt look like italy at all.. more like alice in wonderland

  • @venipedia
    @venipedia4 жыл бұрын

    Sorry, but, on which characteristics is based the definition of "italian" village (it's pretty far from it)? Architecture? Colors? A central square? What about it?

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    Clough Williams Ellis designed a village which was Italian influenced but was not supposed to be Italian.

  • @AtalienaFhang

    @AtalienaFhang

    4 жыл бұрын

    It says it in the video... did you watch it?

  • @venipedia

    @venipedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@anonb4632 thanks for the kind reply, we understand it, but it's hard to define it an italian village since, for example, the normality it's not colorful, not central square and the architecture could be really different from South to North. This village is really nice, but it's like eat pasta with pineapple... you can't feel Italy just for the pasta.

  • @venipedia

    @venipedia

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@AtalienaFhang sure, in fact our question is precise, since the host claims: "look ma, I'm in Italy!" and seeing the video, from an italian eye, it seems more close to Austria and Edimburgh for the architecture, Venice, Corfù or some Andalusia place for colors, but there is even a touch of other influences from all over the world. So, again, we like this village, it's funny and curious, but it doesn't match an italian village and it's really hard to define it so (even the central square it's not a standard in Italy). That's why we asked for.

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@venipedia I happen to be in Edinburgh right now, and can guarantee Portmeirion is nothing like it either. 😉 In fact Portmeirion isn't much like anywhere and that's the beauty of it. It does look a bit Italianesque, but certainly not Italian. For me, it looks more Balkan or Mittel Europa - Austria, Czech Republic etc... But obviously with some major differences too.

  • @MsSicily86
    @MsSicily86Ай бұрын

    bellissimo paese

  • @sharong8511
    @sharong85114 жыл бұрын

    I like the place, just not the paint colours. Too Disneylandish for me.

  • @medusagorgo5146

    @medusagorgo5146

    4 жыл бұрын

    You wouldn’t like Europe then

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    Nothing to with Disney, dear. It's a fascinating place.

  • @anonb4632

    @anonb4632

    4 жыл бұрын

    Also it's a quiet place. Unlike Disneyland.

  • @skarrambo1

    @skarrambo1

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@medusagorgo5146 Did you not think that Disney looked to Europe for that inspiration?

  • @medusagorgo5146

    @medusagorgo5146

    4 жыл бұрын

    skarrambo 1 I know he did, what’s the issue? My point being, the OP would not like Europe because they use many many colours on their homes. I lived in Germany for 10 years and traveled extensively around the continent, they love to incorporate colour into their lives.