By Ruth Cawley
City breaks and seaside holidays are usually great for a short respite. However, the more culturally inclined and wanderlust-filled travellers prefer to include more adventurous activities and historical sites in their itineraries. What better way to learn more about a place than visiting some of its most iconic sites?
Ghost towns have been a point of fascination for centuries. These eerie towns host a population of zero and most have remained that way for some time. However, they are connected to pivotal points in history and an abundance of local legends and mythology. Many a storyteller has used them as inspiration for books and films while historians and archaeologists are invested in finding out more about different cultures and historic events.
If you are travellling to any of these destinations make sure you apply for your ISIC card which allows you travel without a passport. Find out more information here.
1. Craco, Italy
The town of Craco in the Basilicata region of southern Italy was presumably founded sometime between the eighth or tenth century BC. It resides on the summit of a large hill where its buildings still stand out against the rest of the landscape. Craco was built for defensive purposes on a cliff that was approximately 1,300 feet high and overlooked the Cavone River valley. Unfortunately, like most ghost towns, Craco’s buildings and streets are decayed from lack of use and maintenance. Remnants of its inhabitants can be seen in some of the derelict homes such as bed frames and hearths.
Once Craco’s population reached well over 2,000 inhabitants by 1881 but had dwindled to zero by 1980 when the town was abandoned. The beginning of the end occurred in 1963 when a landslide caused enough damage to force residents to relocate to another valley in the vicinity. Further destruction followed due to severe flooding in 1972 and an earthquake in 1980. The environment was deemed too unstable and dangerous for people to live peacefully or prosperously in Craco. The series of natural disasters rendered Craco a modern-day ghost town.
Despites its misfortune, the town has a long and intriguing history. It was occupied by Ancient Greeks in the years circa 540 BC and later under the leadership of Arnaldo, Archbishop of Tricario. One of the most prominent points in the town was the San Nicola Church which held a great deal of influence and reverence on the locals. Craco also passed to other noblemen over time who ranged from Norman descendants to German royalty. Over the years, the town was used as a military base, a point of education, and a prisoner centre, depending on its current landlord. Craco’s university was established in 1276 which drastically increased its population over time. The Castle Tower was one of its most defensive structures and became a cell of sorts for prisoners.
Today, Craco is only open to the public for guided tours. However, it was featured prominently as a location in Hollywood films like The Passion of Christ and Quantum of Solace. It was even as a backdrop for a Japanese Pepsi advert in 2015 as well as multiple music videos. Clearly, Craco’s appeal still prevails, especially as it remains a popular tourist spot even years after it was vacated.
2. Calico, California, USA
The United States of America is home to many a ghost town. One of its older and more interesting towns is Calico, which was a hub for silver mining and located in the Calico Mountains of California. It was founded in 1881 and thrived during the silver rush era in the United States.
Once, Calico was a busy town with a population of around 3,500 people in 1890 and prospered heavily on the extraction of silver from its local mines and mountains. Some residents hailed from foreign lands like Ireland, China, Greece, and France. However, the Silver Purchase Act decreased the value of silver and Calico’s economy took severe hits. By the mid-1890s, silver was worth only $0.57 (~$21.00 in 2023) per troy ounce and the town gradually began shutting down. Once there was no well-paid work or valuable resources at hand, people migrated elsewhere. The school and post office closed permanently in 1898 and mining activities ceased entirely. By 1907, Calico was a complete ghost town. An attempt was made to repopulate and revive it in 1915, though it was unsuccessful.
Calico is now designated as a county park with some of the town having been restored to resemble their original design. Five of the original buildings are untouched and are standing relics of the town in its prime. The Calico Ghost Town Regional Park is open daily between 9am and 5pm for visitors.
3. Kayaköy, Turkey
The weather-worn village of Kayaköy in Turkey became a ghost town in the 1920s when its residents were evacuated for political reasons. The town was originally founded in the 1700s and its residents were mainly Anatolian Muslims and Greek Orthodox Christians. There were years of peace before political instability took hold. Following World War I and the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1924), outbreaks of violence and riots caused many inhabitants to be exiled or flee theirs home for their own safety. In 1923, one proposed solution was for Greece and Turkey to enact a mutual population exchange to ensure religious and national security for the residents. However, this meant that Turks who came in from Greece would not reside in Kayaköy upon their return and all the Greeks were evacuated back to Greece. Thus, the village has remained a ghost town and a relic of historical significance and tragic bloodshed.
Kayaköy stretches across a mountain slope in the southwest of Fethiye. Its ruins consist of between 350 and 500 houses and two Greek Orthodox Churches which are conserved by the Turkish government as important historical sites. Many buildings have been eroded by winter winds and cold temperatures to the point that their roofs have been stripped. Derelict fountains and cisterns can also be found here. As a result, the entire town emits an eerie vibe and is a testament to how tragedy and politics can rip apart peoples’ lives and homes.
Today, Kayaköy is a UNESCO Heritage Site and therefore a popular tourist attraction and historical monument. The village inspired a modern novel called ‘Birds Without Wings’ by Louis de Berniere.
4. Kolmanskop, Namibia
Kolmanskop is a former diamond mining town in the Namib Desert in southern Namibia. The name means ‘Coleman’s peak’ in Afrikaans. It was founded in 1908 when railway worker, Zacharias Lewala, found a glittering stone among the sands which later proved to be one of many local diamonds. This led to masses of people settling in Kolmanskop to profit from its diamond mines. The town became a hub of prosperity as approximately five million carats of diamonds were excavated from the mines. This wealth was put towards progressing the standard of living. In its prime, Kolmanskop provided many amenities to its people such as a hospital, power station, school, theatre, ballroom, and casino. It was also home to the first x-ray station in the southern hemisphere and the first African tramline.
However, Kolmanskop’s renown was short-lived. By 1914, the local mines were running low and more valuable diamonds were discovered along the southern coasts. Thus, the citizens of Kolmanskop gradually moved out to more promising pastures until the town was completely deserted in 1956.
Present-day Kolmanskop is open to the public for guided tours which explain the town’s history. Kolmanskop fits the typical descriptors for a ghost town – remote, empty, and in disuse. ‘Deserted’ is an apt description as the town is home to no living population, only to infrastructures filled with the Namib Desert sands.
5. Hashima Island, Japan
Hashima Island is one among the 505 uninhabited islands located within the Nagasaki Prefecture. Its colloquial alias is Gunkanjuma meaning ‘Battleship Island’ due to its shape and ranks as one of the most famous ghost towns worldwide. Hashima Island was developed by the Mitsubishi Corporation in the late nineteenth century after an undersea coal deposit was discovered there. It was built into a thriving coal mining facility and became a symbol of rapid industrialization in Japan.
At its peak in the 1950s, the island housed roughly 5,200 residents in an area of just 16 acres, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth at the time. The settlement resembled a small self-sufficient city with several high-rise concrete buildings, schools, shops, and entertainment facilities. By the 1960s, the coal mines became depleted, and demand plummeted when Japan switched to petroleum as an energy source. In 1974, the mines were closed, and the island was abandoned. This may have been a blessing in disguise for the workers. Records indicate that the work-related death toll reached approximately 1,300 people on Hashima Island. Causes of death were mainly reported as malnutrition, exhaustion, or injuries sustained from underground cave-ins or accidents.
Ever since, the island has remained deserted. Buildings, equipment, and personal belongings were left behind, creating an eerie, frozen-in-time atmosphere. Over the decades, its concrete structures have been heavily eroded by saltwater and wind. The structures are still standing but are now much more unstable and appear weather-beaten. This adds to the island’s haunting appearance. Many of its notable features include the buildings themselves and the surrounding seawall.
A limited number of guided group tours of Hashima Island are available to book online. The eroded buildings were declared unsafe by the Japanese government, so tourists are prohibited from going there unchaperoned. The journey to the island is forty minutes from Nagasaki Port. You must follow your guide’s instructions and remember to avoid booking during the winter season. Trips can be cancelled due to stormy weather.
Hashima Island has gained world renown and stands as a powerful reminder of Japan’s industrial success and the eventual decline, making it a compelling historic destination. It was also featured in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall where it served as the villain’s lair.
6. Pyramiden, Norway
The spellbinding Arctic ghost town of Pyramiden is situated within the Norwegian archipelago called Svalbard. The town is named for the pyramid-shaped mountain adjacent to the settlement. Sweden founded the town in 1910 and later sold it to the Soviet Union in 1927. The Soviets developed it into a mining hub, and it thrived in the 1980s with a population of roughly 1,000 residents. Pyramiden was the prime example of a prosperous Soviet society as it earned significant economical benefits from coal mining. The Soviet influence was evident in its architecture and the lifestyle of the residents. Amenities included a school, hospital, cultural centre, and sports complex.
Due to high operational costs and poor profitability in the coal mining industry, Pyramiden’s mines were closed for good in 1998. Once its primary trade was obsolete, the residents were evacuated abruptly. Many left their personal belongings behind, creating a time-capsule event. It is as if the town is a snapshot of time long gone. The only changes in Pyramiden were caused by weather erosion of the remaining infrastructure. However, due to the cold climate, the preservation of many structures and items is relatively good compared to other ghost towns.
Nowadays, Pyramiden is a popular tourist destination and stands as a unique testament to Soviet history and presence in the Arctic. The town remains as it was during its peak, providing insights into Soviet life and architecture. Guided tours of Pyramiden are available, allowing visitors to explore the abandoned, well-preserved buildings and learn about its compelling history. Guides offer historical context for the tours as well as local knowledge and ensure safety for travellers. Pyramiden is accessible via boat or snowmobile from the neighbouring town of Longyearbyen, the Svalbard administrative centre. The journey alone offers stunning views of the Arctic landscape. A former Soviet-era hotel has been renovated and reopened to accommodate tourists overnight in the ghost town of Pyramiden.
Sponsored by ISIC.ie