Wales already pays homage to Italy with its famous tourist village Portmeirion that's renowned for recreating the atmosphere of the Mediterranean.
But now an abandoned 'mini Portmeirion' has come to light in the heart of nearby Gwynedd woodland. Mostly hidden from public view, it's now crumbling and slowly being reclaimed by nature - but plans are in place to turn its fortunes around.Lovingly built over decades by a former chicken farmer, as a nostalgic shrine to a lifetime of Italian holidays, the place is little known but has been labelled a “national treasure”.
Mr Bourne, who before he retired owned a caravan site and poultry unit, would often disappear off to Italy for weeks at a time, returning home with sketch books full of architectural drawings.In his trademark baggy corduroys, he would then set to work, helped by Muriel and, on occasion, enthusiastic local volunteers.
Each project took around four to six weeks. The approach was makeshift: armed with chicken wire, the Bournes carted buckets of ballast from the River Dulas to be mixed with concrete to make mortar.