Depopulation of small mountain towns in Abruzzo (Italy): decay or resource?

The article proposes some reflections on the abandonment of small mountain centers in a different point of view that opposes the general trend. Without ignoring the problems of architectures and territory degradation due to abandon, the article wants to highlight some positive effects produced from the depopulation of small villages. Sometimes the inhabitant's permanence (or a new attendance of a place) has involved incongruous building transformations and serious changes in the surrounding environment; besides, it is important to consider also the dangers that a new 'valorization' could entail.