Portmeirion
Gwynedd
The village of Portmeirion was designed by the eccentric architect Clough Williams-Ellis from 1926 onwards. Although you could be mistaken for thinking that you were in Italy, the village in fact occupies a peninsula in north Wales.
The buildings employ a number of architectural tricks to make them appear grand despite their simple construction. Also, the bottom of the pool (right) is painted blue to give the illusion of mediterranean skies when the Welsh weather fails to deliver.
In the woods surrounding the village, there are numerous sculptures and follies such as a mock ship and a lighthouse, and there are also landscaped sub-tropical gardens.
Some of the houses are let as holiday homes, and the paying public are welcome to walk around the village, gardens and surrounding countryside.
