Ghost Towns in Campania tra dissesti idrogeologici e terremoti. Ghost Towns in Campania among hydrogeological instability and earthquakes

In the southern Apennines, the abandonment of some settlements is also partly due to strong seismic events, sometimes combined with hydrogeological instabil- ity. This is the case of Aquilonia, Melito Irpino, Conza della Campania and Romagnano al Monte. The first two, after the 1930 and 1962 earthquakes, were also abandoned due to the instability of the territory and rebuilt in safer areas. Of the Aquilonia old town, the ruins of the ancient settle- ment remain, subject to redevelopment projects that have never been fully completed; of Melito, only the abandoned remains of the castle and church are visible today. High damage and hydro-geological instability led to the abandonment of Conza and Romagnano after the 1980 earthquake. In Conza, the quake destroyed 90 % of the houses, today the old village has become an archaeological park thanks to the remains of the ancient Compsa. Romagnano, located on a spectacular ridge overlooking the Platano gorges, was evacuated and abandoned due to widespread damage, with a freeze frame at 41 years ago. Four ghost towns rich in memory to be re-evaluated for sustainable tourism.