Continuing on from our last post, in which we discussed the proliferation of incredibly picturesque ghost towns in Italy and the reasons behind their considerable number, here are some more of our picks of the most beautiful among them. If you are a fan of such things, of exploring abandoned buildings and taking in the sight of nature reclaiming land and buildings decaying beautifully, keep these extraordinary towns in mind during your next trip to Italy.
Fabbriche di Careggine is a town in the area of Lago di Vagli, or Lake Vagli, in Lucca. Although it would be more correct to say that it is beneath the lake. The medieval town, a long-time home to talented metal-working artisans, was flooded in 1953 in order to create the artificial lake, a hydroelectric basin and every decade it makes a ghostly reappearance when the lake is drained for maintenance work. Hundreds of thousands attend every time to watch as it slowly rises out of the lake but the town is often still visible underneath the water, with the top of the church poking out on days that the level is low.
Fabbriche di Careggine is a town in the area of Lago di Vagli, or Lake Vagli, in Lucca. Although it would be more correct to say that it is beneath the lake. The medieval town, a long-time home to talented metal-working artisans, was flooded in 1953 in order to create the artificial lake, a hydroelectric basin and every decade it makes a ghostly reappearance when the lake is drained for maintenance work. Hundreds of thousands attend every time to watch as it slowly rises out of the lake but the town is often still visible underneath the water, with the top of the church poking out on days that the level is low.
The town dates back to the 13th century when a colony of blacksmiths from Bergamo and Brescia settled on the site and it became one of the most important iron suppliers in the country. In the 20th century, however, their importance as iron suppliers was outweighed by the need for a hyrdoelectric basin and inhabitants were moved to nearby towns. Now it remains frozen in time under water with its stone buildings, cemetery, bridge and Church of Saint Theodore intact.
The lake has been emptied in 1958, 1974, 1983 and 1994 but has not been revealed since then. There were plans to drain the lake in 2016 but that did not come to pass and, in the future, it is hoped to set a dome around the town to make it permanently visible.
Whether this happens or not, it remains intriguing so why not find a luxury villa in Tuscany and make a day-trip to see if you can get a glimpse of this famous ghost town?
The lake has been emptied in 1958, 1974, 1983 and 1994 but has not been revealed since then. There were plans to drain the lake in 2016 but that did not come to pass and, in the future, it is hoped to set a dome around the town to make it permanently visible.
Whether this happens or not, it remains intriguing so why not find a luxury villa in Tuscany and make a day-trip to see if you can get a glimpse of this famous ghost town?
Another Tuscan example is the incredibly old town of Isola Santa, located in the heart of the Apuan Alps, not far from the coasts of Versilia. Once a rest point for travellers and pilgrims on the banks of the river Turrite Secca, the construction of a dam for hydroelectric power meant that it was abandoned in 1950.
It remains uninhabited but was restored during the 2000s and now stands as a peaceful oasis of natural and manmade beauty that can be visited and enjoyed. The town makes for a stunning and vibrant picture, combining the Apuan Alps, teal-coloured lake, stone buildings and lush greenery.
Just find a vacation rental in Versilia and discover this beautiful town for yourself.
It remains uninhabited but was restored during the 2000s and now stands as a peaceful oasis of natural and manmade beauty that can be visited and enjoyed. The town makes for a stunning and vibrant picture, combining the Apuan Alps, teal-coloured lake, stone buildings and lush greenery.
Just find a vacation rental in Versilia and discover this beautiful town for yourself.
Photo credits
picture 2: Garfag / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY 3.0
picture 2: Garfag / CC BY-SA 3.0;
picture 3: Sailko / CC BY 3.0
