The village was officially ordered abandoned by royal decree in 1902 due to landslide risks.
Despite the evacuation orders, a local resident named Giuseppe Conte lived in the village as its sole inhabitant for several decades until his death in 2022.
The village architecture is characterized by 'case a corte' (courtyard houses) typical of the Southern Italian agricultural tradition.
The abandonment process was so gradual that many homes were left with furniture, kitchenware, and tools still in place.
The site is currently managed by a local foundation dedicated to preserving the village as a cultural monument.
Roscigno Vecchia is situated within the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Roscigno Vecchia is an abandoned village in the Cilento region, famously known as the 'Pompeii of the 19th Century' due to its preserved state following a total evacuation. Geological instability caused by recurring landslides led the Italian government to declare the town uninhabitable in the early 1900s. While most residents relocated to the newer Roscigno Nuova, the site remains largely intact, featuring stone houses, narrow alleyways, and a village square. It is one of the few ghost towns in Italy where a handful of individuals have periodically resisted permanent displacement. The village serves as an open-air museum detailing rural Cilento life before the industrialization of the 20th century. Visitors can walk through the silent streets and view remnants of domestic life still visible inside several structures.
The central piazza facing the old church, which provides the best vantage point of the silent, stone-walled houses.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe walking shoes as the stone streets are uneven and often cracked.
Bring your own water, as there are no functioning shops or facilities within the ghost town boundaries.
Respect the signage near unstable structures, as some areas are cordoned off for safety due to ongoing structural decay.
Avoid visiting during or immediately after heavy rain, as the ground remains unstable and prone to mud.
Respect the site as a former residential area; do not enter buildings marked as unsafe or private.
