Unusual travel destinations in Italy – abandoned villages – part I.

Italy has everything that one travel lover needs. But did you know it also has the unusual travel destinations which include abandoned villages, sometimes called the ghost towns? They have been abandoned years ago because of many earthquakes and serious landslides. Now serves as the unusual travel destinations.

Craco, Basilicata

The massive migration from Craco was caused by war, landslides and earthquakes. In 1963, all the 1,800 inhabitants were evacuated due to a massive landslide. Craco remains only a decay ghost town.

Everything looks like it was tens of years ago, as if the entire population left overnight. Mel Gibson filmed his movie The Passion on the streets of this village because they look so dramatic and unique.

Craco, Basilicata, Italy
Craco, Basilicata by Martin de Lusenet

Pentedattilo, Calabria

Pentedattilo is another ghost town and has five pinnacles that resemble the five fingers of the hand. Founded in 640 BC, it was deserted in the 1960s.

In the 1980s, it was restored by volunteers who rebuilt the entire street network and helped with restoring the houses.

Pentedattilo, Calabria, Italy
Pentedattilo, Calabria by Filippo Parisi

Romagnano al Monte, Campania

The Romagnano al Monte village was destroyed in 1980 because of a massive earthquake. Even if it was rebuilt, the old setting has remained an attraction for the people who are looking for ghost towns. The village started to be really popular in the 2000s.

Romagnano al Monte, Campania, Italy
Romagnano al Monte, Campania by psub

Roscigno Vecchia, Campania

Roscigno is a town in Salerno that has two parts. The old one is 1.5 kilometers far from the current setting and is abandoned. The population moved in the new setting because of a serious landslide. Now the town serves as a museum.

Roscigno Vecchia, Campania, Italy
Roscigno Vecchia, Campania by Alessandro Bonvini

Tocco Caudio, Campania

Tocco Caudio village was abandoned because of the many earthquakes that shattered the area. Instead of rebuilding the town, the people abandoned it and settled somewhere else.

They named the new town in the same way and now there are two locations, but one is completely deserted.

Tocco Caudio, Campania, Italy
Tocco Caudio, Campania by Foglianise

This is the first part of Abandoned villages of Italy. For the second part of Unusual travel destinations in Italy – abandoned villages click here.

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