The disappearing villages of Italy: a fragile and little-known heritage

Across Italy, there are small villages that risk disappearing forever. These are the so-called ghost town or villages that are gradually being abandoned, often located in mountainous areas or places that are difficult to reach. According to several studies on the depopulation of Italy’s inland areas, in recent decades thousands of people have left these places to move to cities in search of jobs, schools, and healthcare services. This phenomenon has had profound consequences: not only population loss, but also the closure of shops, schools, and local businesses. The result is an extraordinary cultural and architectural heritage that risks being lost forever. In this context, some villages have become symbols of this transformation, such as Civita di Bagnoregio, often referred to as “the dying town”.

Civita di Bagnoregio, the “dying town”.

Among the disappearing villages of Italy, Civita di Bagnoregio is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating and well known. Located in the Lazio region, this village was built on a hill made of tuff rock that is constantly affected by erosion. The deep ravines surrounding the village, known as calanchi, make the landscape spectacular, but at the same time extremely fragile. The village can only be reached by crossing a long pedestrian bridge, which helps create an atmosphere suspended in time. Walking toward Civita literally means leaving the modern world behind. Over the centuries, the fragility of the terrain has caused landslides and collapses, gradually reducing the habitable surface of the village. For this reason, Civita has been nicknamed “the dying town.” Today it has very few permanent residents, but it continues to survive thanks to tourism.

A spectacular landscape… destined to disappear.

One of Civita’s most distinctive features is the landscape surrounding it. The calanchi, formed by wind and rain erosion, create a unique yet unstable environment: the natural processes behind the formation of these ravines make the future of the village uncertain. Over the centuries, entire sections of land have collapsed, changing the shape of the hill on which Civita stands. The beauty of this place is therefore closely linked to its fragility: precisely what makes it special is also what puts it at risk.

When tourism saves (and threatens) a village.

One of the most interesting aspects of Civita di Bagnoregio is the relationship between tourism and preservation. In recent years, the village has become a very popular destination, also thanks to social media and the spectacular images of its landscape. To manage the flow of visitors and fund maintenance work, an entrance ticket was introduced , a decision that has made it possible to collect significant funds for the conservation of the village, contributing to restoration and safety projects. However, the success of tourism also raises important questions: can a place remain authentic when it becomes so heavily visited? Civita risks turning into a sort of “open-air museum,” where everyday life becomes increasingly limited and tied to tourism, and less and less ordinary and spontaneous. This paradox is common to many Italian villages: tourism can be a fundamental resource, but it must be managed carefully.

Craco, the silence of an abandoned town.

PAROLE DIFFICILI

Arroccato: costruito in una posizione alta e difficile da raggiungere, spesso su una collina o una montagna. Built in a high and difficult-to-reach position, often on a hill or mountain.

Civita di Bagnoregio è arroccata su una collina di tufo.
Civita di Bagnoregio is perched on a tuff hill.

Inagibile: non sicuro o non adatto per essere abitato o utilizzato. Unsafe or unsuitable to live in or use.

Dopo le frane, alcune case del borgo sono diventate inagibili.
After the landslides, some houses in the village became uninhabitable.

Rudere: edificio molto vecchio, danneggiato o parzialmente distrutto. A very old, damaged, or partially destroyed building.

A Craco si possono vedere molti ruderi abbandonati.
In Craco, many abandoned ruins can still be seen.

Vicolo: strada molto stretta, tipica dei centri storici italiani. A very narrow street, typical of Italian historic centers.

I vicoli di Civita sono spesso pieni di turisti e fotografi.
The narrow streets of Civita are often full of tourists and photographers.

Ripopolare: riportare abitanti in un luogo che si è svuotato nel tempo. To bring residents back to a place that has gradually become empty.

Alcuni progetti cercano di ripopolare i piccoli borghi italiani.
Some projects aim to repopulate small Italian villages.

Dissesto idrogeologico: situazione di instabilità del territorio causata da erosione, frane o problemi legati all’acqua. Land instability caused by erosion, landslides, or water-related problems.

Il dissesto idrogeologico minaccia molti borghi costruiti sulle colline.
Hydrogeological instability threatens many villages built on hills.

E ORA TOCCA A VOI

Completare il testo con le parole della lista:

vicoli – arroccato – borgo – calanchi – ruderi – dissesto idrogeologico – inagibili – ripopolare

Molti piccoli paesi italiani rischiano oggi di scomparire a causa dello spopolamento e del ___________. Alcuni di questi luoghi si trovano in zone molto fragili, circondate da profondi ___________ o soggette a frane. Civita di Bagnoregio, per esempio, è un ___________ medievale ___________ su una collina di tufo. In altri casi, come a Craco, molte abitazioni sono diventate ___________ e oggi il paese appare quasi come un insieme di ___________. Tuttavia, esistono anche esempi positivi: alcuni progetti culturali e turistici cercano infatti di ___________ i centri storici italiani. Passeggiare nei piccoli ___________ di questi paesi permette ancora oggi di scoprire un’atmosfera unica e autentica.