Roscigno Vecchia: Italy's Ghost Town and Its Last Resident

Roscigno Vecchia, a ghost town in the Cilento region of Italy, has been uninhabited since the early 20th century due to forced depopulation laws (Law 301/1902 and Law 445/1908). The last official resident, Dorina, died years ago, but Giuseppe Spagnuolo has lived there alone for decades, making him the sole current inhabitant. The town, located about 2 km from the new Roscigno, was settled around the year 1000 and features abandoned stone houses, a barber shop sign, a fountain, and narrow streets. Spagnuolo, who chose solitude long before the COVID-19 pandemic, offers a unique perspective on quarantine. The article, part of Artribune's series "Italia fantasma," reflects on the preservation of cultural heritage through poverty, quoting Leo Longanesi. The town's urban structure includes palazzos, chapels, and rural buildings being reclaimed by nature. Spagnuolo's presence delays the town's complete abandonment, but his mortality is acknowledged. The piece is written by Luca Cantore D'Amore.