Summer may be drawing to a close, but avid travellers can reminisce about their sun-soaked holiday adventures with Lego’s latest launch.
The LEGO Group has unveiled its intricate, 3,251-piece Ideas Italian Riviera set that promises to transport weary city dwellers to the the picturesque Ligurian coast by recreating a quaint fishing village.
The detailed set includes the pieces for three beautiful buildings – complete with removable roofs that reveal a gelato store, a shop for diving equipment, as well as a vibrant fish market.
It is part of the toy manufacturer’s Ideas initiative that allows Lego fans to dream up their own worlds in the hope that they are turned into a reality.
The Italian Riviera design was submitted by Oregon native Alex Sahli, whose passion for travel and La Dolce Vita inspired the set, as he gushed: ‘Italy stands out as my favourite destination.’
His submission to the Ideas programme heroes the villages of Cinque Terry, Sahli explained, adding: ‘I’m especially proud of the vibrant colours and the textural variety throughout the build – particularly in the water, houses, and stonework.’
The inhabitants of Sahli’s Lego fishing village include the owner of the gelato shop, a pasta-making Nonna, and a vendor selling fresh fish, with a total of 10 minifigures included in the set.
While fans have been left impressed by the level of detail in the Italian Riviera set, one feature sparked confusion on X/Twitter after social media users mistook what appears to a Lego loaf of bread for a ‘Dubai Chocolate Bar piece’.
The LEGO Group has unveiled its intricate, 3,251-piece Ideas Italian Riviera set that promises to transport weary city dwellers to the the picturesque Ligurian coast by recreating a quaint fishing village
The inhabitants of Sahli’s Lego fishing village include the owner of the gelato shop, a pasta-making Nonna, and a vendor selling fresh fish, with a total of 10 minifigures included in the set
One X user shared a picture of two figurines, including the white-haired Nonna as she seemingly inspected the bar held out by another character.
They captioned the post: ‘The LEGO IDEAS Italian Riviera set introduces a Dubai Chocolate Bar piece.’
Others, however, were not convinced that the piece was meant to symbolise the viral chocolate filled with kunafa and pistachio cream, with one person writing: ‘That’s literally Foccacia. Why would an ITALIAN based set include Dubai chocolate? It makes no sense.’
Some speculated it could be the Lego version of Tiramisu, a dessert that is typically Italian, as one person pointed out: ‘You wouldn’t eat [Dubai chocolate] with a fork.’
The Italian Riviera set retails for around £250, as some X users complained Lego’s latest launch was ‘awesome’ but out of their budget.
One comment read: ‘Lego needs to stop making awesome 200+ dollar sets. I can’t keep up with affording them all.’
Another fan, who got their hands on the set, broke down the pros and cons of the Italian Riviera Lego world, noting that it ‘doesn’t compromise feeling or aesthetic’ and is ‘dense with detail’.
In fact, the reviewer added this is where the 18-and-over ‘of the world’ sets ‘should have started’, referring to Lego’s travel-inspired models for cities like London, Paris, and New York as well as recreations of famous monuments and landmarks.
The detailed set includes the pieces for three beautiful buildings – complete with removable roofs that reveal a gelato store, a shop for diving equipment, as well as a vibrant fish market
The Italian Riviera design was submitted by Oregon native Alex Sahli, whose passion for travel and La Dolce Vita inspired the set
The only drawback to the Italian Riviera set, they continued, was that the ‘body of water’ doesn’t ‘extend out’ far enough.
It comes after the toy company revealed a huge collaboration with the Warner Bros’ consumer products division inspired by the award-winning Lord of the Rings film franchise.
Launched last May, the Lord Of The Rings: Barad-Dûr set brings to life the menacing tower of Mordor in spectacular detail.
The stunning £400-set is made up of 5,471 pieces and boasts ten mini-figures of famed characters, including Mouth of Sauron, Orc, Sauron, Frodo, Sam, Gollum and Gothmog.
It comprised 5,471 pieces, with ten mini-figures modelled after its famed characters, including Mouth of Sauron, Orc, Sauron, Frodo, Sam, Gollum and Gothmog.
The magical release sent adventure fiction fans into a frenzy online, with many desperate to get their hands on the set.
Taking to X, one wrote: ‘Oh. My. God. Currently searching: “How to write off Lego sets as a business expense.”‘
‘Just showed the wife. She already was interested, now it’s a must-have.’
The Nonna figurine can be seen in her Lego kitchen
A second exclaimed: ‘When?! how much?! take my money!!’
‘Me wants it! Preciouuusssss,’ a third penned.
A fourth adamant fan said: ‘I don’t care if I don’t have the space for it I’m getting it anyway.’
‘That’s a better trailer than Rings of Power,’ one user chimed.
‘This thing is about to become my precious real fast,’ another quipped.
One fan begged: ‘Please stop releasing so many cool sets. Our wallets cannot handle it.’
‘Well, I know what I’ll be doing this summer,’ an individual commented.
The new Lego Ideas Italian Riviera Set is currently available to shop online at www.lego.com.
