lschiazza ghost town

<p>This small abandoned village on the banks of the Avisio stream speaks volumes of a world which is no more</p>

<p>Ischiazza village is on the Avisio, along a farmed flood plain around 700 metres down the valley from the Stramentizzo dam. In 1966 forty-four people lived there. During the devastating flood which hit the town of Valfloriana, incessant rain caused a great many landslides and rivers of mud invaded the town. The same fate awaited Maso village a few km further down the valley.</p> <p>The inhabitants of Ischiazza succeeded in getting to safety in higher villages and, when the flood had subsided, they returned to their almost entirely destroyed village to see what could be salvaged. On 20 November 1966 the survivors carried their Christ and sacred artefacts from the church along the mule track to the village of Casatta above, making Ischiazza’s demise official.</p> <p>This route starts from Pradel village on the attractive cobbled mule track which descends gently in the direction of Ischiazza, with the Avisio stream visible through the trees below. Just before you get to the ghost town you come across the ruins of an unusual building to the left of the road. It was an oven used to dry corn. All that remains of Ischiazza now is ruins with the church recognisable, a few large agricultural buildings and an old stone fountain sticking up out of the ground.</p> <p>A one kilometre long straightforward footpath crosses through the town and continues down along the Avisio stream, with beautiful views. Retrace your steps to your starting point</p>