AV

I am at the entrance of Brancaleone Vetus, a ghost town in Calabria, southern Italy. The village is empty, and the buildings are old and worn out. As I walk through the quiet streets, I feel a strange calmness.

The old village was ignored for 50 years. In 2008, the Brancaleone Vetus Urban Archaeological Park was established, which is currently managed by Pro-Loco di Brancaleone. Link

The old church, with its sand-colored walls, stands as a testament to the village’s past. It has been transformed into the Brancaleone Vetus Documentation Center, a hub of knowledge and history. Inside, the air is filled with whispers of the village’s former glory.

Climbing to the top of the village, I reach a clearing where the ancient church once stood. Now nothing but ruins, it offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and the shimmering Ionian coast. I can’t help but wonder about the lives of those who once called this place home.

The original ancient church has been reduced to just one floor containing empty tombs. The only remaining artifact is a tombstone dating back to 1741.

Making my way to Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, the heart of the village, a sense of nostalgia washes over me. This once lively square is now deserted, the wind carrying only the distant sounds of the new town of Brancaleone Marina. The rock beneath the square holds the remnants of old silos, a reminder of the village’s agricultural past.

I took this photo while crouching inside a silo.

Descending further, I stumble upon the hidden cave-church of the Tree of Life. Inside, a carved column resembling a tree trunk stands proudly, its branches reaching up to the intricately painted ceiling. Symbols of the Armenians, brought during the Byzantine era, adorn the walls, telling stories of a forgotten time.

As I make my way through the ruins, the encroaching tall grass brushes against me, releasing the scent of oregano. Crumbling walls and collapsed structures remind me that nature is reclaiming what was once built by human hands. Brancaleone Vetus whispers its stories, beckoning me to unravel the mysteries of its past.

In this ghost town, time stands still, offering a poignant and haunting reminder of the transient nature of human existence.