The Hidden Gem of Fresno: Underground Oasis

🌵Fresno was originally a desert, but Baldassare Forestiere transformed it into an agricultural area with his underground oasis.

🌡️The intense heat in Fresno inspired Forestiere to dig and create underground rooms to escape the heat during the summer.

🍊Forestiere successfully grew citrus trees underground, protecting them from the extreme temperatures and extending their lifespan.

🧱Forestiere used the natural hard pan and innovative architectural techniques to build the underground rooms, drawing inspiration from his Sicilian upbringing.

💡Forestiere's underground oasis is a hidden gem in Fresno, often overlooked by passersby on the adjacent highway.

How did Forestiere create the underground oasis?

—Forestiere used hand tools like pickaxes and shovels to dig the underground rooms, breaking the hard pan and using the natural material as bricks to reinforce the walls.

What inspired Forestiere to create the underground oasis?

—The intense heat in Fresno and the challenge of growing citrus trees in the rocky soil inspired Forestiere to create a cool and fertile underground environment.

How did Forestiere cool the underground rooms?

—Forestiere implemented a Venturi effect by designing cone-shaped skylights that funneled hot air out and pulled cool air down into the underground rooms.

What is the lifespan of the citrus trees in Forestiere's underground oasis?

—While most citrus trees in the area have a lifespan of about 50 years, the trees in Forestiere's underground oasis have thrived for over a hundred years, protected from frost and extreme heat.

Is Forestiere's underground oasis open to the public?

—Yes, Forestiere's underground oasis is open for public tours, providing visitors with a unique experience to explore the hidden underground world and learn about Forestiere's innovative creation.

00:11Fresno was originally a desert but later became an agricultural area.

00:36Baldassare Forestiere excavated about 20 underground acres over 40 years.

01:23The underground oasis consists of hidden bedrooms, passageways, and courtyards.

02:03The underground oasis is made of hard pan, a sedimentary rock, and bricks made from it.

02:45The underground oasis provides a cool environment for growing citrus trees.

04:30Forestiere moved to Fresno with the plan to grow citrus but faced challenges with the rocky soil.

06:16The underground oasis offers a 10 to 15-degree temperature drop.

10:06Forestiere's underground oasis is a testament to his innovative and creative mind.