The businessman who bought an entire ghost village and gave it new life

In recent years in various villages Italy they have sold hundreds of dilapidated houses and buildings almost for freethanks to schemes to attract new residents that have sparked a wave of regeneration for the country’s rural areas.

For one Scottish businessmanhowever, buying just one house wasn’t enough, moving on, according to CNN Travel, to market of an entire village.

THE Cesidio Di Ciaccawell, it just finished its renovation Borgo I Ciaccaof a rural village dating back to 1500 and historically bears the name of his family. It is located in the wild area of ​​Ciociaria, between of Rome and Naplesat the foot of the town of Picinisco and is now a real eye-catcher.

“At the beginning of the 20th century my grandparents Cesidio and Marietta left the village in search of a better future,” Di Ciacca tells CNN. “They migrated to Scotland, leaving behind their village, which fell into oblivion for half a century. It was a ghost place. I started “renovating” it more than 10 years ago. It was a huge project, but now it’s finally alive again.”

The Scottish businessman who bought an entire village in Italy to honor his ancestors

Borgo I Ciacca village from above

The landscape around the village is scattered with abbeys, monasteries and pilgrimage sites which are famous for the apparitions of the Virgin Mary.

“It has been a place of natural transit for millennia thanks to its clean water, clean air and fertile fields,” says Di Ciacca. “Prehistoric people chose it as their home and many saints wandered this valley of faith, from St. Thomas Aquinas to St. Benedict. She is magical.”

During the Middle Ages Ciociaria was a crossroads of shepherds, hermits and saints, while the 1800 constituted it hideout of Italy’s most wanted outlaw, by Domenico Fuoco. Then, immigration and a series of natural disasters shrunk the local population. Today it is one of Italy’s best kept secrets.

Di Ciacca’s father Johnny was born in the village before his mum and dad took him north to Scotlandwhere they started an ice cream business.

For more than 500 years it has belonged to their family and as the only living heir with a real interest in its revival, Di Ciacca wants to ensure its future.

“I want this village to become a hub for all Italian-Scots abroad who want to come back and reconnect with their roots, and maybe even help their homeland by starting activities and development opportunities,” he says.

There are also plans to open one agri-food academy in the village, but so far the pandemic has slowed down the schedule, as well as to start collaborations with European universities on how to preserve and continue agricultural traditions.

For someone who managed to convince 140 people to get rid of their tiny piece of property to create a large project, it shouldn’t be that difficult.

Source: News Beast

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