32 Abandoned Cities That Are Slowly Being Reclaimed by Nature

14. Craco, Italy – The Crumbling Hilltop Ghost Town

Perched high on a rugged hilltop in southern Italy’s Basilicata region, Craco is a town where time has stopped, but nature has not. Once a bustling medieval fortress, Craco has been completely abandoned for over 50 years, yet it remains one of Italy’s most breathtaking ghost towns. Craco’s troubles began in the 20th century when a series of landslides, triggered by unstable soil and earthquakes, forced its residents to relocate to safer ground. By 1963, the last of the townspeople had left, leaving behind a ghostly labyrinth of empty stone buildings, crumbling towers, and desolate churches. Over time, wild grasses, ivy, and creeping vines have woven their way through the ruins, softening the decay and transforming the town into an otherworldly, cinematic landscape. The dramatic contrast between the weathered stone facades and the lush greenery creeping over them has made Craco a popular filming location, featured in movies such as The Passion of the Christ and Quantum of Solace. Walking through Craco today is an eerie experience—the town's streets remain intact, but silent and deserted, with only the sound of the wind rushing through empty windows and birds nesting in collapsed rooftops.