Fossa Ghost Town‍

52071377480_6ef1c3ddd4_w.jpg

This ghost town was the consequence of a severe earthquake that occurred on April 6, 2009, near the city of L’Aquila in the Abruzzi region of central Italy. The magnitude-6.3 tremor struck at 3:32AM, extensively damaging the 13th-century city of L’Aquila, located only about 60 miles (100 km) northeast of Rome. The earthquake resulted from normal faulting on the northwest-southeast-trending Paganica Fault. It and several neighbouring faults are related to extensional tectonic forces associated with the opening of the Tyrrhenian Basin to the west. The aftershocks from the country’s worst earthquake in 30 years rippled through central Italy, fraying both public and political nerves. In all, more than 300 people died, and an estimated 60,000 were left homeless. By September 2009, vigorous assistance efforts had succeeded in moving some of the dispossessed into new homes, though thousands remained housed in temporary facilities. The town’s historic centre remained off-limits more than a year after the quake as restoration efforts proceeded slowly, and officials involved in the reconstruction effort were later investigated for wrongdoing in the awarding of public contracts.In the region of L'Aquila, there are many towns and houses void of human life, many not documented. This one has been covered a fair bit on social media, but we still wanted to visit nevertheless, with it's reasoning for neglect being so impactful elsewhere. When we were given an amazing opportunity to spend a few days in Central Italy earlier this year, we didn't hesitate, managing to get a few spots done that teased an upcoming trip potentially later in the year. As for Fossa specifically, it was a surreal exploration and unlike anything we had seen before, the magnitude of the earthquake constantly bearing down upon you as you wander the overgrown streets. We were a little pushed for time, so I didn't feel take any photographs of the houses, most are untouched or alternatively, completely stripped of anything. The external tour was much more resonating for me, as it amplified the amount of lives affected by the tragedy.

52071359435_2c144b2508_b.jpg

52070887183_a3ae626079_b.jpg

52070887978_c140542296_b.jpg

View from the mayor's mansion at the top of a hill overlooking the town.

52071112534_8394e6364e_b.jpg

52071360300_d715fd4219_b.jpg

52071112504_d9d075e39d_b.jpg

Town's square.

52070890173_3a6c2c74d4_b.jpg

52070881606_c9f7f8a4ee_b.jpg

As we pushed beyond the construction work that is inconsistently occurring in the town, the roads started to get a lot more covered by foliage.

52071112334_11798d7680_b.jpg

52070881556_92c4f98091_b.jpg

52071112229_ab5b01c6d7_b.jpg

Town's church. You can see cracks in the walls caused by the earthquake.

52070881481_27de5ac92a_b.jpg

52071112104_ac74f712f1_b.jpg

52070881401_e41c7d6fe3_b.jpg

52070881351_c442a64827_b.jpg

View from one of the tidier houses looking down onto the street below.

52071111939_bf386773a0_b.jpg

52071111879_8ec595c1d4_b.jpg

52071111819_28d3f4ca51_b.jpg

Church from the town hall window, a building filled with ornate architecture and murals.