TOP 10 EXPERIENCES

For Italy

9. Ghost town remains

In Italy, there is no shortage of ghost towns that were once forgotten and now tell us the story of how this country used to be and how people went about their daily lives centuries ago. The good news is that there are several archaeological sites that have kept the well-preserved ruins of these ancient cities. In Pompeii, Ostia Antica, Paestum, Valle dei Templi and Syracuse you can visit the fascinating ruins and get a glimpse of how these cities were and how the locals lived their everyday life. In 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius erupted and created a cloud of smoke that completely enveloped Pompeii, in the region of Campania, killing all its inhabitants. All that remained of the natural tragedy were ruins that were forgotten for more than 1500 years. It was not until 1748 that the city was rediscovered and excavations began. In fact, the ashes of the eruption helped to preserve what was once Pompeii. Even today, walking through the ruins, you can clearly see the streets, houses, temples and other buildings that once belonged to one of the most important cities in the region. Ostia Antica, on the other hand, was once a fortified military camp and later became an important commercial centre and seaport. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the port went into decline and was consequently abandoned. Today, it is a very well-preserved ghost town, having been buried under mud and sand for centuries, due to repeated flooding. You can walk through the ruins of the former seaport of ancient Rome and marvel at the excellently preserved ancient buildings, the remains of the docks, taverns, stores, warehouses and mansions. In Paestum, you will find one of the most famous archaeological sites. It is believed that, in the Middle Ages, the population left this city of Campania forever due to the pollution of the land. The mud that accumulated actually preserved the famous Greek temples that we can admire today. The ruins were discovered in the 18th century, during the construction of a road. Besides the temples, there is also a museum with fascinating artefacts, ceramics and frescoes to admire. In Sicily you will also find the Valle dei Templi, one of the most extensive and best-preserved archaeological sites of the classical Greek civilization. Here you will find the remains of the ancient Greek city of Akragas, the original nucleus of modern Agrigento. Among other things, you will see traces of Doric temples and necropolises, and you can visit an archaeological museum that exhibits many artefacts that tell the story of the region. It is not only one of the main attractions of the island, but also one of the most fascinating examples of Magna Graecia art and architecture. Still in Sicily, more precisely in Syracuse, you will find the Parco Archeologico della Neapolis, which houses the Teatro Greco, where the last tragedies of Aeschylus were performed. You can also visit a limestone quarry called Latomia del Paradiso, whose stones were used to build the ancient city. What is not missing in Italy are ancient ruins that tell the story of an Italy that does not want to be forgotten!