Ghost Towns in Bologna

Ghost Towns in Bologna

1. Castiglioncello, Castel del Rio, Imola (BO)

In the Bologna area, there are true treasure chests of history and mystery. Castiglioncello, although located just beyond the regional border, has ancient roots dating back to the 9th century and was abandoned in the 1950s due to progressive depopulation and isolation. Located along the old Montanara Road - which was, until the 19th century, the only connection between the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and that of Bologna - the village suffered numerous calamities. In the 18th century, the original church was destroyed by lightning and, in the same century, it was tragically isolated by a flood of the Santerno River that flows beneath it; in the 19th century, it was occupied and looted by troops of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After being abandoned, it was temporarily reoccupied by locals and even served as one of the locations in the Emilia Apennines for the film Flashback (1969), directed by Raffaele Andreassi and presented at the 22nd Cannes Film Festival.

2. Casa Banditelli, Granaglione, Alto Reno Terme (BO)

Just a few kilometers away, Casa Banditelli stands in the heart of the Emilia Apennines: a village shrouded in legends, where scarce historical records only add to the charm of a time when bandits and wanderers roamed its narrow streets. All that is known about this little village is that it was definitively abandoned during World War II due to difficulties in obtaining water.

3. Chiapporato, Camugnano (BO)

Equally evocative is Chiapporato, located between the lakes of Suviana and Brasimone, which only in 2013 saw its last two inhabitants - a mother and daughter - disappear, leaving behind the church, the old oven, and the cemetery as silent testimonies of a once-vibrant life. Today, you can still clearly see their home, as well as the church, the remains of the ancient oven, and the mid-19th century cemetery. Like many villages of this kind, it was born out of the need to clear forests and create fields, and was primarily inhabited by woodcutters, shepherds, and charcoal burners who would embark on long journeys to Tuscany, staying away from home for months.

©Lab051

Deserted Villages in Modena

4. Le Caselle, Fanano (MO)

Crossing the provincial border, you discover another face of abandonment: Le Caselle in Fanano, located in the province of Modena. Here, during the night between December 21 and 22, 1952, a landslide dramatically altered the fate of the village, isolating its inhabitants and forcing them to leave their homes. The testimonies of that tragic event - from the remnants of the houses to the archival video documentation of the time - were widely broadcast by local media, making Le Caselle an unmissable stop for anyone in search of authentic emotions and stories that speak of resilience and nature's relentless force.

The village has been recently rediscovered thanks to trekking and cycle tourism activities which, following trail 407 from Fanano (MO), explore the area and often lead to uncharted corners of the territory.

➝ Discover more about Le Caselle on the website inappenninomodenese.com

via inappenninomodenese.com

Abandoned Historic Villas and Mansions in Bologna

5. Villa Malvasia or Villa Clara, via Zanardi 449, Bologna

Not only ghost towns, but also splendid historic mansions tell tales of a glorious past that has gradually faded away. Villa Malvasia, also known as Villa Clara, in Bologna is a hunting lodge and summer residence of Count Carlo Cesare Malvasia. Richly decorated and featuring innovative construction techniques for its time, the villa has undergone centuries of transformation - from an aristocratic residence to shelter for displaced people, and finally to becoming the subject of legends. The most famous story speaks of Clara’s ghost, a tragic figure whose legend contributes to making the place even more intriguing for those wishing to relive the emotions and mysteries of the past.

©Lab051

➝ Report other ghost towns by writing to redazione@bolognawelcome.it