Italian LEGO artist Luca Petraglia has transformed his childhood passion into a lucrative career, creating monumental architectural replicas that can earn him up to 50,000 euros per piece. The 33-year-old from Milan recently showcased his latest masterpiece at the Italy Brick Expo 2025 in Rome, where his 1:300 scale model of St. Peter's Basilica, constructed with 110,000 LEGO pieces and spanning over three meters in circumference, drew widespread attention.
Petraglia's journey with LEGO began at age four when his father gave him his first set. Initially disappointed to find only colorful building blocks in the box, young Luca's perspective changed dramatically when his father sat beside him and demonstrated how the small plastic pieces could magically transform into a police car. "I honestly expected a different toy," Petraglia recalls. "But my father showed me how these little plastic parts could turn into something amazing. Ten minutes later, I had the most beautiful gift a little boy could dream of. That day, LEGO fever caught me, and I've been building continuously ever since."
The former insurance agent turned his hobby into a full-time profession, abandoning his previous career to focus entirely on LEGO artistry. At the Italy Brick Expo 2025, one of Europe's largest LEGO conventions, over 100 LEGO artists from around the world displayed their original creations under the theme "Roma caput mundi" (Rome, capital of the world), referencing ancient Rome's status as the political, cultural, and religious center of the world. Petraglia's exhibition featured recreations of several iconic Roman landmarks, including St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza Navona, and the Trevi Fountain.
When asked about his passion for Italian architectural monuments, Petraglia explains his deep connection to religious buildings. "I've always loved recreating cities. And what could have greater symbolic significance in Italy than a church? Even in the most remote village, there's one on the main square – community life always revolves around that one building." Since LEGO never produced church-building sets, Petraglia developed his own approach. His interest in architecture began during high school art history classes, where he created his first designs and has been continuously refining his techniques ever since.
Petraglia's portfolio includes famous Italian landmarks such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Florence Cathedral, the San Carlo Theater in Naples, and the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. His latest creation, the St. Peter's Basilica replica at 1:300 scale, required 110,000 LEGO pieces and measures over three meters in circumference. Surprisingly, this massive project took only three months to complete. "If I had built it ten years ago, it would have been a Herculean task," Petraglia notes. "But with time, everything becomes easier – practice makes perfect."
The technical process behind these creations involves sophisticated planning and modern technology. Petraglia begins by creating computer-generated renderings of monuments, using specialized programs that perform all necessary calculations. For detailed accuracy, he relies on Google Earth to explore monuments down to the smallest details with high-quality zoom capabilities. However, he emphasizes that patience remains crucial for LEGO construction, as a single mistake can require completely dismantling and restarting a project – something he's experienced multiple times.
Transporting large-scale works like St. Peter's Basilica presents unique challenges. For the recent Rome exhibition, Petraglia divided his creation into four modules, assembling them only upon arrival at the venue to minimize risks. Smaller works like the Trevi Fountain, constructed with approximately 40,000 pieces, and other projects with fewer components are more manageable to transport.
While some might view his profession as unconventional, Petraglia embraces his artistic identity. "I like being called an artist," he states. "There are artists who work with paint, stone, or marble. I use a different material – plastic. The most important thing is having fun with creation. I go to my studio every day and work on my pieces. It's a part of my life I couldn't live without anymore."
The financial success of his artistic career validated his career change from insurance sales, following in his father's footsteps, to full-time LEGO artistry. "When I discovered it could be a well-paying profession, I had no more doubts," Petraglia explains. His works range from pieces selling for a few thousand euros to major projects earning 50,000 euros, with pricing determined by the number of building blocks used and time invested. "If you can make a good living from your passion, you're a fulfilled person," he reflects.
At 33, Petraglia acknowledges questions about "growing up," including occasional comments from his wife. He freely admits to having "Peter Pan syndrome," believing that children's creativity knows no bounds and seeing value in maintaining that childlike spirit. His 18-month-old daughter Olivia already plays with larger LEGO pieces and shows natural talent for building. "She does it really well – she has talent," Petraglia laughs. "It must be in her DNA."
