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...
