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Forget skyscrapers - the world's most beautiful buildings are underground

Forget skyscrapers - the world's most beautiful buildings are underground

The Iconic Santorini Hotel in Imerovigli, Greece, has a pool that's embedded inside a cave. The cliffside overlooks the Mediterranean ocean.

Forget skyscrapers - the world's most beautiful buildings are underground

Rocky homes line the cliff face in Nevsehir, Turkey, also known as the Cappadocia region. The area is popular with tourists for its Byzantine art and large network of underground Bronze Age troglodyte dwellings.

Rocky homes line the cliff face in Nevsehir, Turkey, also known as the Cappadocia region. The area is popular with tourists for its Byzantine art and large network of underground Bronze Age troglodyte dwellings.

For a more modern take on a troglodyte dwelling, Les Hautes Roches is a five-star hotel constructed inside a limestone cliff. The lavishly decorated rooms overlook the Loire River.

For a more modern take on a troglodyte dwelling, Les Hautes Roches is a five-star hotel constructed inside a limestone cliff. The lavishly decorated rooms overlook the Loire River.

This 400-foot-deep amusement park was constructed in a former salt mine in Romania, called the Salina Turda. Inside, you can ride an underground ferris wheel, paddle in a lake, play ping pong, and see performances at an amphitheater.

This 400-foot-deep amusement park was constructed in a former salt mine in Romania, called the Salina Turda. Inside, you can ride an underground ferris wheel, paddle in a lake, play ping pong, and see performances at an amphitheater.

Built into subterranean rock, the Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki boasts a glazed dome just above ground level that lets ample sunlight into the interior. Those rough rock walls were left untouched by the designers for a reason: naturally great acoustics make the church a perfect venue for concerts.

Built into subterranean rock, the Temppeliaukio Church in Helsinki boasts a glazed dome just above ground level that lets ample sunlight into the interior. Those rough rock walls were left untouched by the designers for a reason: naturally great acoustics make the church a perfect venue for concerts.

In this southern Tunisia village, locals live in traditional troglodyte dwellings — cave houses — created by scraping away rocks. There is even a subterranean hotel.

In this southern Tunisia village, locals live in traditional troglodyte dwellings — cave houses — created by scraping away rocks. There is even a subterranean hotel.

This house on the Greek island of Antiparos sits right where two slopes meet. Two long stone walls bridge the hills, allowing the house to naturally blend in the space.

This house on the Greek island of Antiparos sits right where two slopes meet. Two long stone walls bridge the hills, allowing the house to naturally blend in the space.

Built in 2009 in memory of a Korean poet, the Earth House in Seoul has two courtyards connecting six single rooms, a kitchen, a study, and a bathroom with a wooden tub and toilet.

Built in 2009 in memory of a Korean poet, the Earth House in Seoul has two courtyards connecting six single rooms, a kitchen, a study, and a bathroom with a wooden tub and toilet.

This home in Glaumbær, Iceland is an example of a "turf house"— a highly-insulated building that has a stone foundation and layers of turf built around the sides.

This home in Glaumbær, Iceland is an example of a "turf house"— a highly-insulated building that has a stone foundation and layers of turf built around the sides.

In Poland, 800 steps lead down a shaft to this space, which holds an art gallery, health resort, and massive halls that host weddings and conferences. This 13-century marvel was once a salt mine.

In Poland, 800 steps lead down a shaft to this space, which holds an art gallery, health resort, and massive halls that host weddings and conferences. This 13-century marvel was once a salt mine.

Built in 1996, this hobbit-like house in the Welsh countryside is a tunnel under a turf roof. The three-bedroom house with stunning ocean views resembles a home featured in a famous British children’s TV show — locals call it the Teletubby house.

Built in 1996, this hobbit-like house in the Welsh countryside is a tunnel under a turf roof. The three-bedroom house with stunning ocean views resembles a home featured in a famous British children’s TV show — locals call it the Teletubby house.

This "buried" this museum is on Naoshima, Japan's "art island." Small concrete openings and geometrical skylights dot the greenery.

This "buried" this museum is on Naoshima, Japan

The residents of Coober Pedy in Australia move underground to pray. The Serbian Orthodox Church, built in 1993, is carved in the sandstone and has a community hall, a parish house, and even a school.

The residents of Coober Pedy in Australia move underground to pray. The Serbian Orthodox Church, built in 1993, is carved in the sandstone and has a community hall, a parish house, and even a school.

Created by architect Peter Vetsch, this Swiss home is an example of an "earth house" — a type of home built into the ground that relies partially on surrounding terrain for walls.

Created by architect Peter Vetsch, this Swiss home is an example of an "earth house" — a type of home built into the ground that relies partially on surrounding terrain for walls.

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