Abandoned Green Theatre. by Roman Robroek - Photos of Abandoned Buildings

About "Abandoned Green Theatre."

by Roman Robroek - Photos of Abandoned Buildings

About the artwork

The Benevento province of the Campania region in the South of Italy is sadly home to a multitude of abandoned structures, villages, and towns. The area is quite known for being vulnerable to earthquakes, which didn’t make life easy for these communities over the past few centuries. The looming seismic threats and the trends of mass migration to nearby cities contributed to leaving many of these places behind. One of the most notable ghost towns in the province happens to be Apice.

Often dubbed as the “Pompei” of the 1900s, Apice still features remnants of buildings dating back to the first century DC. The town prospered until the 1962 earthquake when it was abandoned almost overnight. Today, it is quite difficult to visit the area due to ongoing restrictions. This fascinating site is steeped in history, and its background dates back to Roman times. Even the town’s name can be traced back to a Roman officer, Marco Apicio, who gifted some of the nearby lands to former legionnaires who served the state’s military efforts. To this day, Apice is home to some faint traces of the famous Via Appia, one of the most famous roads leading to Rome. The Appia is widely considered the ancestor of modern highways, and it is amazing to see that parts of it still survive. In addition to the traces of the ancient Romans, Apice features various churches and a truly stunning historical center. This prominent part of the town is not in terribly dire shape, considering the earthquake and the decades of neglect.