Craco, Ghost town in Basilicata, Italy
The commune sits on a steep clay hill carved into sharp ridges by rain and wind over thousands of years. A desert-like landscape with deep gullies runs around the mount and reaches right up to the abandoned houses.
Greeks from the coastal settlement of Metaponto moved inland in the 6th century BC and founded a fortified site here. During the Middle Ages the place grew under Norman and later Spanish rule and was completely evacuated in 1980 due to landslides.
The settlement on high rock was built to defend against invaders and make the most of dry hillside land for centuries. The narrow lanes and stone houses still show how people organized daily life in this harsh terrain and managed with scarce water.
Visitors may enter the site only with a guide because unstable buildings make free movement impossible. Sturdy shoes are needed as loose stones and uneven paths run across the entire area.
The empty village served as a film set after its evacuation and now attracts more visitors than during the time when people lived here. Directors use the empty lanes and crumbling facades for their timeless feel and dramatic location in the calanchi region.
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