Artist interprets ‘Pittsburgh experience' with one-of-a-kind map

PITTSBURGH — We can't stop staring at this map of Pittsburgh.

The hand-drawn rendering of the city is filled with so many hidden treasures that you'll be required to review it again and again.

From the tiny animals that pinpoint the exact location of the Pittsburgh Zoo in Highland Park, to the succulent Potato Patch fry basket identifying Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, every inch of the map includes fine detail that shows off well-known (and lesser-known) Pittsburgh landmarks.

Mario Zucca, originally from Indiana, Pennsylvania, has been passionate about drawing for as long as he can remember.

"As a kid, I would draw comic books in my room for hours and hours," Zucca said.

For the Pittsburgh map project, he wanted to illustrate the Steel City in a way that only locals would understand.

"I did a similar map of Philadelphia and got a really great response, so I figured a Pittsburgh version would turn out pretty cool," he said.

The map, which took a little over 100 hours to complete, focuses on what Zucca calls the "Pittsburgh experience."

"I try to give greater emphasis to the big, iconic things, and work that smaller stuff around it," Zucca shared. "For example, when thinking about the North Shore, one immediately thinks of Heinz Field, PNC Park, Rivers Casino and the Carnegie Science Center."

Those are all included in his depiction of the North Shore, but also shows the Clark building, the U.S.S. Requin at the head of the Ohio River, and the 40-foot rubber duck which took up residency on the Allegheny River next to Point State Park last summer.

Zucca has produced several Pittsburgh-themed drawings in the past, including portraits of the beloved Fred Rogers and Pirate legend Kent Tekulve. While there isn't another Pittsburgh project in the works right now, Zucca hasn't ruled out revisiting "The 412" for future ideas.

*CLICK ON IMAGE TO BETTER EXAMINE AMAZING DETAIL INCLUDED IN ILLUSTRATION!