Italian town left abandoned for 35 years after entire population after an earthquake hit

May 2024 ยท 4 minute read

Life in the Italian town of Apice can be particularly slow.

For more than three decades, the streets have been empty and buildings have been left to crumble.

Amazingly, its thousands of residents fled after a huge earthquake, never to return.

Located in the province of Benevento, it was built during the days of Imperial Rome, and dates back to the eight century.

A deserted alley in the ghost town of Apice, which has been empty since a devastating earthquake struck back in 1980

A deserted alley in the ghost town of Apice, which has been empty since a devastating earthquake struck back in 1980

Eerie: The streets have been empty for more than three decades after the population fled in terror

Eerie: The streets have been empty for more than three decades after the population fled in terror

Buildings have been left to crumble in the Italian town, which was hit by the infamous Irpinia earthquake 36 years ago

Buildings have been left to crumble in the Italian town, which was hit by the infamous Irpinia earthquake 36 years ago

But the once-busy beauty spot became a ghost town after the infamous Irpinia earthquake 36 years ago, which killed at least 2,500 people and injured thousands more.

Quarter of a million people were left homeless after the natural disaster, and safety fears led to Apice being abandoned.

Only now has the town slowly started repopulating, but these pictures show the eerie scenes that greet visitors.

The town, which is close to Naples, has not been populated since the earthquake in November 1980

The town, which is close to Naples, has not been populated since the earthquake in November 1980

Signs remain in place, but Apice has been empty for more than 35 years after its residents fled following the natural disaster

Signs remain in place, but Apice has been empty for more than 35 years after its residents fled following the natural disaster

Located in the province of Benevento, it was built during the days of Imperial Rome, and dates back to the eight century

Located in the province of Benevento, it was built during the days of Imperial Rome, and dates back to the eight century

The once-busy town gives clues about the life people lived there more than 35 years ago, after the population fled in terror

The once-busy town gives clues about the life people lived there more than 35 years ago, after the population fled in terror

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THE PLACE THAT TIME FORGOT: THE EERIE STREETS OF APICE BELIE THE RICH HISTORY OF A ROMAN TOWN 

The town received its name from a Roman nobleman and a popular gastronomer Marcus Gavius Apicius, author of the first Roman cookbook.

He was commissioned by the Senate to give this estate as a gift to a squad of legionaries to reward them for their services and loyalty in battle against Romes enemies.

The village is an open-air museum, a Roman city frozen in time. There are ruins of villas, taverns and bridges, while statues of lictor fasces and tombs litter the landscape. 

<!- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->Advertisement Only now has the town slowly started repopulating, but these pictures show the eerie scenes that greet visitors

Only now has the town slowly started repopulating, but these pictures show the eerie scenes that greet visitors

But the once-busy beauty spot became a ghost town after the infamous Irpinia earthquake 36 years ago, which killed at least 2,500 people and injured thousands more

But the once-busy beauty spot became a ghost town after the infamous Irpinia earthquake 36 years ago, which killed at least 2,500 people and injured thousands more

Quarter of a million people were left homeless after the natural disaster, and safety fears led to Apice being abandoned

Quarter of a million people were left homeless after the natural disaster, and safety fears led to Apice being abandoned

The spooky-looking town has been empty for years after its population fled in terror following the earthquake

The spooky-looking town has been empty for years after its population fled in terror following the earthquake

An old rusting television sits on a table in a dusty room in a home which has been left to crumple after Apice was abandoned

An old rusting television sits on a table in a dusty room in a home which has been left to crumple after Apice was abandoned

The town dates back to the eighth century, and was named after Roman nobleman and a popular gastronomer Marcus Gavius Apicius, author of the first Roman cookbook

The town dates back to the eighth century, and was named after Roman nobleman and a popular gastronomer Marcus Gavius Apicius, author of the first Roman cookbook

Buildings are crumbling and the streets have become overgrown after years of neglect

Buildings are crumbling and the streets have become overgrown after years of neglect

The village is an open-air museum, a Roman city frozen in time. There are ruins of villas, taverns and bridges, while statues of lictor fasces and tombs litter the landscape

The village is an open-air museum, a Roman city frozen in time. There are ruins of villas, taverns and bridges, while statues of lictor fasces and tombs litter the landscape

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