Craco is an abandoned town of timeless charm, a tangle of stone houses and narrow alleys that tell the story of a distant time. This small town, located in a hilly area in the center of Basilicata, between the Lucanian Apennines and the Ionian Sea, is just 30 miles from the beautiful stone city of Matera. It is a place where everything has remained unchanged making it one of the most extraordinary and visited destinations in Italy.

The old village of Craco, known as the “ghost village”, was destroyed in the 1960s by an enormous landslide which caused irreparable damage to the water and sewage systems. The inhabitants were forced to abandon their homes and move to the nearby town of Craco Peschiera. Every corner of the old village, despite the deafening silence that surrounds it, still manages to describe the scenes of daily life lived by the “crachesi” residents. It is a village of surreal and decadent beauty which, in addition to being chosen as a film location by famous directors, is also part of the architectural and historical artifacts of the famous World Monuments Funds.

The old Craco was a noble town and a defense stronghold, its monuments and in particular the Norman tower that stands on top of the village tell the story of its glorious past. In 2009, after a territorial enhancement intervention, Craco was secured and made accessible to tourists and visitors. To enter you need to have the “Craco Card” issued by the administration and it is mandatory to wear a protective helmet. Each visit is organized in groups and followed by local volunteers, the only authorized guides. For any further info: https://www.oltrelartecraco.it/

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