Set within the Aspromonte mountains- rugged hills which loom over Calabria’s southernmost coastline – you will find a handful of tiny villages with Ancient Greek heritage. Yet Roghudi Vecchio is a hilltop town without the chattering of locals and drifting cooking smells. It lies completely abandoned, with the remnants of crumbling houses and rotting furniture still left behind. This ‘paese fantasma’ (ghost town) lies within the Reggio Calabria province, accessed by a long winding road inland from the southern Ionian coast.
Perched over a large riverbed at the foot of the Aspromonte, this town was left by many in favour of building the new Roghudi after damage caused by the earthquakes of 1783. It suffered from numerous landslides and floods over time, and was finally completely evacuated in 1971 when it was declared uninhabitable. It is now possible to wander the overgrown streets of this small town, peering through doorways to find crumbling walls and abandoned furniture beneath disintegrating rooftops. The odd herd of goats are the only life you’ll find remaining, trampling among the remnants of old pizza ovens, broken glass and discarded shoes.
We would recommend taking the route which snakes through the mountains from the town of Bova. You should definitely include a trip to this small town and its spectacular viewpoint on your journey up. The road up to the mountaintops is fairly smooth and easygoing, with multiple spots from which to enjoy amazing views. The last few kilometres approaching Roghudi Vecchio is where the road gets rougher. Enjoy the journey up there and the surrounding landscape, then explore the unique silence of this ghost town.
