Sicilian Village Goes Viral Thanks to a Drone Photo of its Human-Like Shape

ByStewart J. Lawrence

May 1, 2023

The village of Centuripe on the Italian island of Sicily has recently gone viral for its unique shape, which resembles a person with their arms outstretched!

Local photographer and drone pilot, Pio Andrea Peri, discovered the unusual shape while browsing Google Earth and decided to fly his drone above the village.

The aerial photographs showed the two longer groups of buildings that resembled arms, another two resembling legs, and a shorter one on top making up the head. While many people were amazed by Peri’s images, he explained how he captured such a large image. He says overlaid about 18 shots manually in post-production so that the entire village was seen in one photo.

The town’s layout and design are said to date back to the 1500’s, with its beautiful and intricate alleyways designed for animal transport. Centuripe is known for its Roman ruins and rare ancient sculptures and is located on a hill approximately 730m above sea level. Its high position has earned it the nickname “the balcony of Sicily,” with stunning views of the surrounding countryside and Mount Etna, visible in the distance.

The photo that Peri published on Instagram has received thousands of likes and lots of attention for the small village.

About the Photographer:
Pio Andrea Peri is from Giardini Naxos. He’s a professional caterer and sports lover. He spent his days between work and the gym until the quarantine happened due to Covid. At which time he discovered his passion for
photography, especially aerial photography. When asked what specifically attracts him to aerial photography, he replied that the drone allows him to see the world from another point of view unknown to man…”it allows you to enjoy the beauties allowed only to a bird, moreover from up there incredible realities are discovered”.

We couldn’t agree more.

ByStewart J. Lawrence

Stewart J. Lawrence is a veteran journalist and public policy analyst who writes frequently on U.S. politics and pop culture trends. In recent years, his commentaries and reviews have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, The Huffington Post, Politico, The Guardian, and CounterPunch. He currently serves as a research consultant to the U.S. Department of War.