At the edge of Rome, in the Tor Vergata district, an imposing steel structure rises from the landscape – a modern monument to ambitions that never came true. This is the Vela di Calatrava, or “Calatrava’s Sail,” designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.

Originally intended as a sports and events center for the 2020 Olympic Games – for which Rome had submitted a bid – the building was meant to symbolize innovation and grandeur. The design, a massive white steel sail, reflects Calatrava’s signature style: light, elegant, and dynamic, with an almost organic form.

Construction began in 2007 with ambitious plans and hundreds of millions of euros in investment. But the project soon became mired in bureaucratic delays, political infighting, and spiraling costs. Expenses rose to over €250 million, and yet the building was never completed. What remains is an abandoned steel skeleton – a breathtaking piece of architecture that never served its purpose.

Today, the Vela stands as a symbol of a dream that faded. The site is fenced off, surrounded by weeds, and left to decay. Yet the structure continues to captivate: as a film set, a subject for architectural studies, and a hidden treasure for urban explorers.