Balestrino by bluestardrop - Andrea and Mirko Isaia (newspaper)
Posted on 07/28/2020 8:35:43 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Balestrino, LiguriaOf all the ghost towns in Italy Balestrino is probably the most mysterious one. It is not quite certain when the town was founded, nor exactly what happened and why it is was abandoned. However, one of the earth quakes that struck the region in 1887 coincides with a drop in population, so that may be a plausible explanation. Before the earthquake that the population amounted to 800-850 inhabitants, mainly farmers.
In 1953 the town was completely abandoned due to 'geological instabilility'. The remaining inhabitants (about 400) were moved to a safer area to the west of the original town. Since then what is left of Balestrino that has stood untouched, as if it had been frozen in time.
(Excerpt) Read more at slowitaly.yourguidetoitaly.com ...
I watched a vid or two about this ghost village; saw some exposed building materials that appeared to be Roman-era terracotta (of course, that's merely IMHO). The unknown origin, plus its defensible location, makes it at least plausible that it had been lived in since ancient times, and even if not, an ancient structure (or earlier ghost town) was used as the source of building materials over the centuries. Alas, I can't find the video link with either a search or a look at the freakin' browser history.
If they want it, I’ll take it.
I have never been to that town before. It looks like it would make an interesting adventure.
*ping*
There’s many of these in Italy.
The town where my grandparents were born is at least 50% abandoned. Gone. Shuttered.
There are efforts to revitalize some of these places though. Grants for “cottage industries” like cheese making and regions with specific types of olives, as examples.
The gubmint over there has some abandoned (or nearly abandoned) towns for sale at €1 per house, but you have a mere three years to get 'er done. Turns out, if you renovate and leave part of the renovation undone, you can avoid taxes on the property, and the gubmint doesn't care for that. Lots of vids about people who have, including a floating head video of a woman who's done it and has some cautions. And there is poignant stuff like this.
My great-grandfather, Cesto Fiori, came from this isolated, abandoned village in the Apennine Mountains of northern Italy. Take a walk through the ruins with us in this village that was "Tutti Fiori," or only inhabited by the Fiori family. | Walk through an Abandoned Village in Italy | touchingupmyroots | Oct 12, 2009
No wonder I couldn't find the right video -- I had the wrong village! [blush]
Urbex - Abandoned Places Explorations: The Ghost Town of Romagnano al Monte, Italy (2017)
I've been on a binge now today, abandoned places, viewing Gwyrch Castle in Wales (drone shots, jazz soundtrack).
Wow, that is fascinating. Thanks for the ping! :)
My pleasure.
Mark for Italy
Thanks
#7 8 Simple Tips for Dating Italian Women
https://www.internationallovescout.com/dating-tips/8-simple-tips-for-dating-italian-women
The guys there like the thrill of the chase and apparently not the next step... marriage and kids.
My pleasure.
That is an awesome site. My wife and I took a transatlantic cruise last year, and spent a night (Easter) in Rome and a week in Venice. It was simply spectacular! I love Italy.
Sounds great!
I thought this was going to be about villages where almost everyone had died of Covid.
Thankfully, no.
They don’t pay/pay little on a primary residence in Italy.
But, yeah, if they’re selling you a property for €1, they want some type of return on it.
Thank you for the video link; some of the parts I go to look like that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
