Consonno: Italy's Lost Vegas

There are many ghost towns around Italy, all of which have been abandoned for one reason or another – natural disaster, a bad location, poor foundations or planning, or migration – but one of the most fascinating of all has to be failed Las Vegas of Italy, Consonno in Lombardy.

Although the town had ancient origins, its decline came after it was completely bought up and rebuilt in the 60s. This was a time of economic prosperity in Italy and in the spirit of fast cars, rock 'n' roll and glamorous lifestyles, entrepreneur Mario Bagno took it upon himself to transform the town.

He bought every piece of land in the area and forced locals to relocate before knocking everything down bar the church and a few houses.

In hopes of drawing the tourist crowds from Milan, he envisioned a “city of towns” which was to have shopping malls, restaurants, ballrooms and at least one luxury hotel. Each building was to take on the architectural style of a different culture or time; the commercial gallery was built in the shape of a Muslim minaret, Chinese pagodas were placed randomly in the gardens, and a fake medieval castle was placed at the entrance. There were even plans to build a basketball court, a zoo, a new autodrome. tennis courts, a soccer field, horse-riding area, casinos, bars, a discotheque, a bowling alley, an amusement park, hiking trails and an Egyptian Sphinx.

For a brief period the town drew substantial crowds in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was a popular destination for weddings and weekend parties. Then a flood washed the main road to Consonno away, preventing access to the town and killing the project.

Bagno did briefly try and revive the town in the 80s as a nursing home and resort for elderly people but this, too, never fully came to fruition. A rave that took place in the town in 2007 was the final nail in its coffin, leaving it torn and tattered in the wake of the party-goers.

The town today remains a half-completed patchwork of abandoned kitschy buildings, all of which is covered in graffiti. According to recent reports, history may even repeat itself and the whole town may be levelled to the ground once more.

One of the most bizarre spots in Italy, it now looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie. For those intrigued by spookiness and decaying buildings, however, it is a fascinating sight. Just find a vacation rental in Milan and swing by for an interesting detour.