Photographing Italian ghost towns
Wednesday 16 January 2019, 13:39 by Michelle Peeters | 10,364 views | 6 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Craco and Roscigno Vecchia are two Italian ghost towns. They were abandoned out of fear of a landslide that never came. It is a bit like urban exploration photography, but much easier and more accessible. Unusual locations with a good guarantee of great photos!
1. Craco
Craco is an Italian ghost town in the Basilicata region, about forty kilometres from the coast in the toe of the Boot. It sits on top of a four-hundred-metre-high rock formation and overlooks the surrounding hills.
It lies just south of Matera, which is also a beautiful city and film set. With a maze of alleyways, steps and piazzas, sandstone caves, richly decorated facades, churches, and it is also a World Heritage Site.
Craco has a church, chapels, a butcher's shop, bakery and mayor's house, but they have all been abandoned. Since 1974, when a landslide was feared, but never came. Everything is now overgrown with nettles and thistles.
A stunning place in an equally stunning landscape. No wonder the remaining villagers did not really want to leave some fifty years ago.
Ghostly atmosphere
Problems with water drainage and the sewer system as a result of a landslide eventually forced the residents of Craco to leave their village. They moved to the lower-lying villages of Craco Peschiera and Craco Sant'Angelo.
The ghost town, probably founded as early as the eighth century, has now fallen into serious disrepair. A ghostly atmosphere hangs over the abandoned alleyways in the centre. Today, you can only enter with a guide.
Film set
That makes it a good location for filming from time to time. For example, The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson, which was also filmed in Matera, and the Bond film Quantum of Solace starring Daniel Craig.
Research into landslides is currently being carried out. There are also plans to carry out restoration work to attract more tourists.
Photographer, film-maker and visual artist Walter Molfese made stunning footage of Craco with a drone:
2. Roscigno Vecchia
Roscigno Vecchia is another abandoned ghost town. Fearing a landslide, the residents built a new village about 100 years ago. But the old one is still there, including its former church, café (Bar Roma) and a small square with plane trees and a babbling spring.
And there is Giuseppe, with his beard, pipe and hat, who enjoys telling people about the village. There, he sobs, pointing to a crumbling balcony. That is where my sweetheart stood, in the moonlight in the evening. You will just have to forget for a moment that Giuseppe must now be at least 123 years old...
Location
Roscigno Vecchia lies in the central part of Cilento. It is located in Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park and the Cilento World Heritage Site. The municipality borders Bellosguardo, Corleto Monforte, Laurino, Sacco and Sant'Angelo a Fasanella.
The new Roscigno (Roscigno Nuova) is simply referred to as Roscigno and lies 1.5 kilometres from the old town. Coordinates: 40.401823°N 15.339255°E.
Now an eco-museum
Now open to tourism, the ghost town was declared an eco-museum at the beginning of the 21st century. In the surrounding area, and also in the province of Salerno, there is another example of a ghost town: the old village of Romagnano al Monte.
About the author
Michelle Peeters is fotografe en oprichter van DeuxBleus Fotografie. Michelle herkent het bijzondere in het gewone en het gewone in het bijzondere. Ze heeft zich nooit willen specialiseren en is daardoor van alle markten thuis.
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6 comments
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bart telling wrote on Tuesday 25 September 2018 at 13:30 | replynice that you share this with us
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M Foppen wrote on Tuesday 25 September 2018 at 15:51 | replyVery beautiful,describing it would do it too little justice.
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Oscar Kramer wrote on Wednesday 26 September 2018 at 13:20 | replyBeautiful, if I happen to be in the area I'll definitely stop by. Thanks for sharing.
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Nico kranenburg wrote on Thursday 27 September 2018 at 14:39
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Michelle thanks for the tip! Yesterday we were on our way to Matera and could just join the last tour .It is indeed a beautiful location. An additional tip right away : Matera , the district with the cave dwellings and then in the evening with the illuminated streets.
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Michelle Peeters wrote on Thursday 27 September 2018 at 16:46
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@Nico: how nice to hear! In Matera I also took that evening photo that I want to have covering the entire wall. Taken from the square by the cathedral. I'm not easily pleased with my own photos, but I can keep looking at this one. Curious where you took your photo!
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Michelle Peeters wrote on Wednesday 16 January 2019 at 13:40
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Here is a nice article on Columbus Travel about the five most beautiful Italian ghost towns.
Translated from Dutch.
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