In the journey to discover ghost towns, the village of Balestrino draws attention for its timeless and decaying atmosphere, just a step away from the radiant Ligurian western Riviera.
Where Balestrino is located
Balestrino is a small town in the province of Savona with a population of just over 500. The town is listed among those known as ghost towns because, following a hydrogeological threat, in 1963 the old village of Balestrino was abandoned by the fleeing population, worried about the ground giving way. Today, an ancient sundial becomes a symbol of a time that, relentlessly, flows but is no longer marked by anyone, except for some hikers visiting here or diligent American TV crews, attracted by these places full of stories to tell.
The Castle of Balestrino
Overlooking the ancient village stands the Castle of Balestrino or rather the Castle of the Del Carretto – ancient feudal lords of the area – stubbornly clinging to the rocky facade despite the presumed risk of landslide. Everything has been frozen more than 50 years ago, outside and inside ruined walls, with vegetation growing among the cobblestones and alleys with a lived-in look but now sadly static and decaying.
What to See in Balestrino
Visiting Balestrino is like taking a journey through time and mystery: the well-known and evocative location in Liguria – located in the province of Savona – is included in the list of abandoned towns or ghost towns.
In reality, considering Balestrino as a Municipality, it is noted that about 600 people live there, but what attracts attention is the rest of the old village of Balestrino: this is in fact completely devoid of life, empty, consisting only of old abandoned buildings overrun by spontaneous vegetation, as it was abandoned by the population many years ago.
The attention of those who come to these parts is inevitably captured by the Castle of Balestrino or Castle of the Del Carretto family, the ancient holders of Balestrino and its surroundings.
It is undoubtedly one of the attractions of Balestrino, although the visit will not be organized: the Castle was indeed abandoned by everyone about fifty years ago due to land subsidence caused by landslides. It is therefore in a state of neglect, although it should be noted that the tower and entrances are still well preserved today.
Another important place in Balestrino is the ancient church of Sant’Andrea but it is a building that is currently not accessible and indeed is in conditions that would deserve restoration.
In fact, a plan for the recovery of the old village is planned, precisely to prevent these places from being lost.
In a guide to Balestrino there will also be the indication concerning the church of San Giorgio: here there are indeed valuable frescoes dating back to the 15th century, certainly worth admiring.
Ultimately visiting Balestrino in its oldest part is not entirely possible, so what is advisable is to observe the complex from the outside, directly from the area of “new Balestrino” which was built further down the valley.
