Italian ghost villages
The ghost villages are real urbex paradises: usually the explorer must choose between the elegance of a villa, the memories of a school, the intimacy of an apartment and, instead, in a ghost village everything is there. Today classification collects 10 of the most fascinating ghost villages of Italy, distributed among the Italian regions.
Curon Venosta
In 1950 Resia and Curon were artificially flooded to create a lake to produce hydropower energy. All the buildings were destroyed except for the Steeple of Santa Caterina Church that still arises from the Resia Lake’s waters. The legend says that in some winter days it is still possible to hear the steeple ringing.
Pentedattilo
Pentedattilo boosts very ancient origins, dated 640 b.C., when it was a rich economic town and an important military center. It was progressively abandoned from 1783 when it was deeply damaged by an earthquake. It is built over Monte Calvario, Reggio Calabria.
Rocchettine and Rocchette
Rocchettine and Rocchette are two castles located one in front of the other in Torri di Sabina municipality. Abandoned since XVII Century, they were originally used to protect the fundamental business connection between Rieti and Valle del Tevere. In Rocchettine, it is still possible to admire, among the ruins, San Lorenzo Church, restored in ‘700.
Romagnano Al Monte
This ancient town is nestled on an impervious rock 650 meters high which descends straight on Platano river. It was abandoned after the earthquake of the 1980 to be rebuilt near. The town is reachable only through a path that it is not easy to discover.
Vico Pancellorum Antica
This town, located at 555 meters over the sea-level, was founded, as by legend, by the two Pancelli brothers. The population progressively abandoned the town during the centuries. At the feet of Erto Mount, in the location named “Croci di Castello” there was the center of the town, protected by rock walls and by San Marco Church, now destroyed.
Craco
Craco was evacuated in 1963 due to a huge landslide and, since that moment, it became one of the most fascinating ghost town of Italythere are still visible the ruins of four palaces, the ruins of the Il Castello ( a tower so-named by the population), the church and the Convent of San Pietro as well as the source of Salso Lake.
Roghudi Vecchio
A Roghudi Vecchio, which has been populated since 1050, is located on the southern slopes of Aspromonte. It is surrounded by mountains and by Amendolea river and offers an amazing view. It has been declared inhabitable after the two floods dated 1971 and 1973. A particularity of this town: the nails which are still visible on the walls’ houses that were used to tie the kids’ ankles to avoid them to fall in the ravine.
Roscigno Vecchia
In Roscigno Vecchia, nowadays, is living only one person as all the population escaped in 1092 due to continues and huge landslips. Entering the town is an emotional travel as the time seems to be stopped at 102 years ago: there still houses (with interiors), the streets, the Square with the washhouse, the fountain, the shops, the forge men spot, the church and the stables.
Civita di Bagnoregio
Civita di Bagnoregio is a small Etruscan town which belongs to the Association of the most beautiful towns of Italy. It is reachable through a pedestrian bridge built in 1965. Civita di Bagnoregio is defined as The City that is dying due to the slow erosion of the mont on which it is located. Nowadays it is populated by only 12 people.
Giardino di Ninfa
The Giardino di Ninfa is a typical English garden, started in 1921 by Gelasio Caetani which is located on the disappear town of Ninfa, of which, nowadays, there are visible only a few restored buildings. Ninfa was besieged and destroyed by the near cities. Thanks to Caetani family today it is possible to admire the ruins of this ancient civility in a unique atmosphere.