Craco, Ghost town in Basilicata, Italy
Craco stands on a steep hill at 391 meters elevation, surrounded by eroded clay formations known as calanchi in the province of Matera.
The settlement traces back to 540 BC when Greeks moved inland from Metaponto, with archaeological evidence showing tombs from the 8th century BC.
The medieval architecture includes a castle tower, four palaces, and narrow streets that demonstrate the historical development from the 8th to 20th centuries.
Access requires advance booking for guided tours limited to 35 people, with visits available daily from 10 AM until sunset at 15 euros per person.
The town served as a filming location for major productions including Quantum of Solace and The Passion of the Christ after its complete abandonment in 1980.
Location: province of Matera
Elevation above the sea: 391 m
Shares border with: Ferrandina, Montalbano Jonico, Pisticci, San Mauro Forte, Stigliano
Website: http://comune.craco.mt.it
GPS coordinates: 40.37861,16.44000
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:15
This collection includes abandoned cities, industrial facilities and historic sites across multiple continents. Empty buildings, decaying streets and left-behind objects tell the stories of people who once lived and worked there. The reasons for abandonment vary: industrial decline led to the closure of factories and mines, natural disasters forced entire communities to relocate, military conflicts made areas uninhabitable, and economic changes caused once-thriving settlements to empty. Today the structures stand silent while vegetation slowly reclaims the buildings and streets. Visitors find traces of past eras: abandoned schools with textbooks still on desks, decommissioned power plants with rusting machinery, deserted villages with crumbling houses. These places document social, economic and political developments and offer insights into different chapters of industrial history, urban development and the effects of human decisions on inhabited spaces.
Basilicata in southern Italy contains cave settlements, medieval castles and nature parks. The region features Roman ruins, karst caves and abandoned villages. The area includes Pollino National Park with rare pine species and historic centers like Matera with its Sassi cave dwellings.
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