It is definitely worth your visit! It's a familiar picture across Italy where, in the last 30 years, one in four small communities have become ghost towns. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Giardino di Ninfa, as it is known today, was once the fairly substantial medieval town of Ninfa. But Civita is not dead yet. Fun fact: for soccer, he visited 16 of the 20 Italian regions - but he's never been to Florence! Slow Italy always has such great articles ! Or, if you’re on your way to the beautiful Matera (45min away), you could spend the night there. Thank you Debora !! Giardino di Ninfa. Craco was once a monastic center, a feudal town and center of education with a university, castle, church, and plazas. Photo credits (from top to bottom): Featured photo: Poggioreale, on Top 8 Venetian bridges with the most unusual names. Jan 31, 2021 - 01:31 Updated: Feb 12, 2021 - … Unfortunately, this once thriving village rich in noble palaces saw its unfortunate end in January of 1968. In 1686, the Alberti family was reaching an agreement to try to soothe the longtime rivalry with the Abenavoli family – former feudal lords of the village. Photographers in the area know that a stop in these stunning ruins is a must. Savogno is technically part of the village of Piuro in the very northern part of Lombardy. It hides its most beautiful possessions inside its historical buildings. And again there were no people around. The entire country of Italy is in a national lockdown after the government enacted stricter laws to slow down the spread of the coronavirus. Let us deliver to you our next articles. The 376 inhabitants of the new Romagnano were forced to move to the nearby locality of Ariola after the 1980 earthquake. Photographs used on this website by permission or license remain the property of their respective owners. One of the most evocative ghost towns in Italy is undoubtedly Curon in the autonomous province of Bolzano, Trentino-Alto Adige. Three decades after Irpinia hit, people have only just started to move back into the derelict ghost town. My personal recommendation is to use Omio for transportation suggestions and booking in Italy. Your article was very interesting. Craco has since remained untouched, offering the rare sight of a true ghost town, with its deserted streets and houses that were left exactly as they were inside, as if it was abandoned overnight. The Ghost Town of Craco in Italy is a testimony to the past, which still makes you hear the voices that have echoed the small medieval town over the centuries. You can even eat in some of the trattorie (informal restaurants) and stay overnight in one of the beautiful stays like this one. Plus get a free list of 10 Italian words you should know! In 1944, during World War II, the Tuscan village of Sant’Anna di Stazzema was the site of a notorious atrocity, the Sant’Anna di Stazzema massacre. The breach of the agreement enraged Bernardino Abenavoli. Over the years the community grow from the small original nucleus to a population of about twenty to thirty people by 1968. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. According to Legambiente[1], more than 2,300 towns in Italy are at risk of depopulation, with 136 borghi already completely abandoned – and 46 on its sure way out. Unlike other ghost towns, it is totally safe to visit Civita di Bagnoregio. Authentic, unique, and updated information about Italy. Or maybe you’ve explored deeper into a few of the thousands of borghi (small villages). Its difficult name derives from the Greek words Penta daktilos (five fingers). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any part of the site’s contents without written and express permission from the owner is prohibited. Located only 18 miles (30 km) away from Reggio Calabria and 5 miles (8km) from Melito Porto Salvo (the township it belongs to), you should try to get to Melito Porto Salvo first (likely by train). For example, Mel Gibson‘s “The Passion of the Christ” was filmed in Craco and in the nearby city of Matera. Bussana Vecchia is a 1,000 year old ghost town near San Remo (Province of Imperia, region of Liguria) destroyed in 1887 by a severe earthquake and now inhabited by artists. In 2010, Craco was included in the watch list of the World Monuments Fund. In regards to how to get there, if you’re not driving, you can arrive by train or bus from Rome. © 2021 Back in Italy. The village was only partially rebuilt after the war. You’ll also be given a helmet to be used throughout the tour for your safety. In the summer, though, many of the old residents repopulate Savogno, returning from the more-easily accessible villages down the valley. They were mostly hippie artists coming from all over Europe (Italian, Austrian, English, French, Danish, German and Swedish). Poggioreale, a small town located in the Belice valley, was destroyed by the Belice Valley earthquake in 1968, and eventually rebuilt in a safer place a few kilometers away, causing the entire population to be moved there. Civita di Bagnoregio – Lazio (The “Dying Town”) “Civita di Bagnoregio” Italian pronunciation. The village of Romagnano al Monte in the province of Salerno was destroyed in the Irpinia earthquake of 1980 and rebuilt a few kilometers away. If you’re visiting Lake Como and love to hike, look no further: Savogno has to be on your list! Poggioreale was founded in 1642[6] by the marquis Francisco Morso di Gibellina after a decree of the king of Spain Filippo IV allowed him to build in the area. Castelnuovo is a ghost town in the province of Arezzo. If you try to trespass, you could be fined by the local police. It was once a prosperous town on the Appian way that thrived for 600 years between the 8th and 14th century within a double walled fortification. This is the case of the Ghost Town of Celleno, in the province of Viterbo, progressively abandoned during the 19th century due to devastating earthquakes and landslides. Inside Crumbling Craco, Southern Italy’s Medieval Ghost Town. A third of them, instead, were abandoned for natural events like earthquakes, floods, landslides. If you’re planning on spending the night in the area, you could stay in the nearby town of Buccino. While there was no electricity, tap water or sanitation, the new community of inhabitants started settling in and restoring the village. Interestingly, all of the Italian regions have at least one abandoned town, with Tuscany leading the rank with 19 ghost towns. You can use this map to integrate a few abandoned towns into your visits to inhabited towns! There’s not a more interesting and haunting ghost town than Pentedattilo in Italy. Going through Craco Pechiera my premonitions increased. Photo © Peeterv/Istockphoto. Sant’Anna di Stazzema a few hours before the massacre in 1944. Not even the best writers would make justice in describing the beauty of these […], Ravenna, located in the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna, is an apparently simplistic city. More than 9,000 people, or about 3% of the population, have left the mountainous province of Molise since 2014, The Guardian said. It’s worth noting that apart from the 120 ghost towns that are in decent conditions, the leftovers are either in rubble, flooded, or in any such condition that is not advised to visit them. Villages accused of supporting the rebels, such as Beogombo Deux near Paoua, are ransacked by government soldiers. Many legends followed this bloody massacre, with the most prominent alleging that the stone towers overlooking the town represent the bloody fingers of the hand of Baron Abenavoli (for this reason Pentedattilo has been repeatedly referred to as “the Hand of the Devil“). It is situated on the Monte Meliuso and it was founded during the reign of Frederick of Aragon. Ghost towns of Italy: Bussana Vecchia . The most dramatic event was the earthquake of 1783, which threatened the collapse of the rock surrounding the town. If you attempted to stop by the entrance of the ruins on any day, indeed, you’ll find the entrance barred. …In the winter, when the wind blows violently through the mountain gorges, you will still be able to hear the screams of the [massacre of] Marquis Alberti. Pentedattilo is located in the province of Reggio Calabria and is technically a part of the municipality of Melito Porto Salvo. Because of its dramatic landscape and unique atmosphere Craco has been used as a backdrop for many movies, among which Mel Gibson’s The Passion (more specifically, the hanging of Judas), the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and Bruce Beresford’s King David. Subscribe to get the latest news and updates. Tocco Caudio is a village in the province of Benevento that was abandoned after a series of earthquakes in 1980 and 1981, which almost entirely destroyed the old Tocco Caudio. The sad truth is that the village underwent many misfortunes throughout its history. The ghost town has also been the movie set for scenes of “007: Quantum of Solace“, by Marc Forster, and many other movies/commercials. I am so glad you like our articles ! There are no scheduled tours: they are fixed based on the turnout, so there may be some waiting before starting. The remaining inhabitants (about 400) were moved to a safer area to the west of the original town. This ghost town has only one inhabitant left and can only be accessed by a 2,886-step hike. In 1947 immigrants from Southern Italy started to illegally occupy the ghost town. The original village disappeared overgrown by wild plants and bushes, until it was renewed in the 20th century in the English garden style. Located in the instep of Italy's boot, the once-thriving village stands atop a … The main reason for its worldwide recognition is that the town has been – and continues to be – a popular filming location. It is not quite certain when the town was founded, nor exactly what happened and why it is was abandoned. Genoa, like Turin, is one of these fascinating Italian cities that remain off the tourist radar. If you’re planning on spending the night in the area, you could get accommodation in Pisticci – a town 20 minutes away. She responded immediately by organizing a military expedition to kill all of the perpetrators of the massacre. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. In Locana each year there are 40 deaths versus just 10 births. You can definitely get a peek of the ruins regardless of the status of the renovation works by driving up the mountain through the SP85 roadway and following your GPS/smartphone directions for “ruderi di (ruins of) Romagnano al Monte”. The abandonment has made Craco a tourist attraction and a popular filming location. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Visiting relatives in Sicily? After a renewed time of prosperity the town was severely damaged by an earthquake in 1783, which caused much of the population to migrate to the nearby Melito Porto Salvo. Ravenna is […]. Borgata Maison. Poggioreale, Sicily. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Ghost Town of Celleno has been included by the FAI (the National Fund of Italy) among the assets to be protected Celleno is located in the Tuscia area at about 80 km northwest of Rome and about 15 km north of Viterbo. Visiting the ruins of Poggioreale (or, for the locals, Poggioreale antica) means jumping back to 1968. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. Many of the towns in the valley were completely destroyed and Poggioreale was forever rid of its inhabitants. Only one resident has decided to live permanently in the ghost town. Plus, you can stay in the ghost town in one of the beautiful, recently-built Case Rurali (rural homes). Top Lazio Ghost Towns: See reviews and photos of ghost towns in Lazio, Italy on Tripadvisor. on Not just blondes! However, in the 16th century it was again abandoned due the arrival of malaria. Most of these towns were negatively impacted by the rise of urban cities sparked by the economic boom of the ’60s. We will keep you updated if anything changes by staying in contact with a local association founded with the goal of preserving Poggioreale: Poggioreale Antica. 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While many of them are in a complete state of abandonment and are literally reduced to rubble, roughly 120 ghost towns have been restored, or are in the process according to a study by Daniele Benedini[2]. The history of the town is linked to the coal mining activity, which served to supply the local power plant. Since 2000, it has been the site of the Italian National Park of Peace (Parco Nazionalle dela Pace) where a memorial to the victims has been erected. For this reason, the new Poggioreale was moved just a few miles south. Here is our guide to house hunting in a place where all the neighbors are dead or have left town. All Rights Reserved. And no children kicking balls and riding bicycles. Although it represented a strategic transit point to Coira (or Chur, an important town in that period in Switzerland), Savogno depopulated in the 60’s. 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