While it may seem a little strange, Italy is actually a bit of a hot-spot for ghost towns. The internet is filled with endless websites dedicated to pictures of beautifully and poetically decaying buildings and ghost towns and recording and visiting such places is increasingly popular.
If you are among the many obsessed by such things or merely among the great number of us somewhat intrigued by such things, Italy is a dream destination. Due to emigration, natural disasters and accidents there are many ghost towns all over the country that are just waiting to be explored. Here are just a selection of our favourites.
Craco in Basilicata is a town that was built perched on a very high summit, for defensive reasons. It is a particularly attractive medieval hilltown and, since the 20th century, has been abandoned.
If you are among the many obsessed by such things or merely among the great number of us somewhat intrigued by such things, Italy is a dream destination. Due to emigration, natural disasters and accidents there are many ghost towns all over the country that are just waiting to be explored. Here are just a selection of our favourites.
Craco in Basilicata is a town that was built perched on a very high summit, for defensive reasons. It is a particularly attractive medieval hilltown and, since the 20th century, has been abandoned.
As a tourist destination, it is now visited by thousands of outsiders and old residents each year. If you want to wander the town yourself, find a holiday rental in Basilicata and spend a day there.
The area was first inhabited by the Greeks during the sixth century BC and by the 18th century the town as we see it today was standing proud but it was during this century that flaws in the construction and location became apparent. Though the location had proved excellent defensively, the agricultural conditions in the area forced hundreds to leave for the United States and earthquakes and landslides caused the remaining inhabitants leave for neighbouring villages.
By 1991, the town was entirely abandoned. Today it is merely a tourist attraction and a set for films such as “King David”, “Passion of the Christ” and “Quantum of Solace”, among others.
The area was first inhabited by the Greeks during the sixth century BC and by the 18th century the town as we see it today was standing proud but it was during this century that flaws in the construction and location became apparent. Though the location had proved excellent defensively, the agricultural conditions in the area forced hundreds to leave for the United States and earthquakes and landslides caused the remaining inhabitants leave for neighbouring villages.
By 1991, the town was entirely abandoned. Today it is merely a tourist attraction and a set for films such as “King David”, “Passion of the Christ” and “Quantum of Solace”, among others.
The town of Balestrino in Liguria, meanwhile, is comprised of two parts; the city people currently live at the base of a hill and an abandoned town atop it. It is one of the country's most famous and popular ghost towns, visited by thousands of explorers each year.
Abandoned since 1953 and cloaked in mystery as little is known of its history and origins, there are plans to redevelop the area and time could be running out to visit. To explore this gem, find a luxury villa in Liguria and drop by soon.
We do not know exactly when it was established or why and when people began to leave but it is presumed that the spate of earthquakes in the 19th century led to more and more people leaving the area. The last inhabitants were eventually evacuated in 1953. With sea views and large swathes of the historic buildings of the town covered in lush greenery, the town paints a pretty picture and it is easy to see why it captures hearts.
For more if our picks of stunning ghost towns in Italy, be sure to read on to the next article.
Abandoned since 1953 and cloaked in mystery as little is known of its history and origins, there are plans to redevelop the area and time could be running out to visit. To explore this gem, find a luxury villa in Liguria and drop by soon.
We do not know exactly when it was established or why and when people began to leave but it is presumed that the spate of earthquakes in the 19th century led to more and more people leaving the area. The last inhabitants were eventually evacuated in 1953. With sea views and large swathes of the historic buildings of the town covered in lush greenery, the town paints a pretty picture and it is easy to see why it captures hearts.
For more if our picks of stunning ghost towns in Italy, be sure to read on to the next article.
Photo credits
picture 1: Idéfix / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Andrea Tomassi / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Davide Papalini / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Idéfix / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 2: Andrea Tomassi / CC BY-SA 2.0;
picture 3: Davide Papalini / CC BY-SA 3.0
