These decaying hotels were once prized havens for the wealthy. Looted and vandalized, they serve as attractions for the curious or as informal settlements for the poor and displaced. A glorious technicolor dream world, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sammezzano.org" target="_blank" target="_blank">Castello de Sammezzano</a>, built in 1605, remains unused for almost two decades. Eccentric nobleman Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes of Aragon spent 40 years renovating it to Moorish fashion starting in 1853.
Castello di Sammezzano, Italy -- The White Room —
These decaying hotels were once prized havens for the wealthy. Looted and vandalized, they serve as attractions for the curious or as informal settlements for the poor and displaced. A glorious technicolor dream world, Castello de Sammezzano, built in 1605, remains unused for almost two decades. Eccentric nobleman Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes of Aragon spent 40 years renovating it to Moorish fashion starting in 1853.
Courtesy Alessandro Frignani
Deep in the Florentine countryside, Castello di Sammezzano boasts the best of Arab, Indian, Persian and Spanish architectural designs. Initially, many mocked Ximenes' vision. Florence being the home of Renaissance art, they couldn't understand why anyone would look to the Orient for inspiration. He'd also never traveled to the Far East.
East meets West —
Deep in the Florentine countryside, Castello di Sammezzano boasts the best of Arab, Indian, Persian and Spanish architectural designs. Initially, many mocked Ximenes' vision. Florence being the home of Renaissance art, they couldn't understand why anyone would look to the Orient for inspiration. He'd also never traveled to the Far East.
Courtesy Alessandro Frignani
Determined to celebrate the magnificence of Moorish style, its 19th-century owner filled its 65-hectare garden with rare and exotic plants. Converted into a hotel in the 70s, the castle has fallen into disrepair over the last 20 years. In 2015, owners tried to auction the castle with a target price of $40.4 million; there were no bidders. It's currently for sale at $13.69 million but has so far failed to attract a single prospective buyer.
In search of a buyer —
Determined to celebrate the magnificence of Moorish style, its 19th-century owner filled its 65-hectare garden with rare and exotic plants. Converted into a hotel in the 70s, the castle has fallen into disrepair over the last 20 years. In 2015, owners tried to auction the castle with a target price of $40.4 million; there were no bidders. It's currently for sale at $13.69 million but has so far failed to attract a single prospective buyer.
Courtesy Alessandro Frignani
Looting has left it without running water or electricity. Locals fear the castle will eventually be lost to decay and in 2013 set up a voluntary committee of 50 members charged with saving Sammezzano. The Committee FPXA -- named after the castle's visionary owner -- is non-profit but holds group viewings around the castle's interiors six to eight days per year. So far 15,000 tourists have been through its doors.
The Peacock Room —
Looting has left it without running water or electricity. Locals fear the castle will eventually be lost to decay and in 2013 set up a voluntary committee of 50 members charged with saving Sammezzano. The Committee FPXA -- named after the castle's visionary owner -- is non-profit but holds group viewings around the castle's interiors six to eight days per year. So far 15,000 tourists have been through its doors.
Courtesy Alessandro Frignani
The castle was eventually auctioned in 1999 to be renovated once again into a luxury resort, but plans never materialized.
The Lilies Room —
The castle was eventually auctioned in 1999 to be renovated once again into a luxury resort, but plans never materialized.
Courtesy Alessandro Frignani
Sammezzano isn't alone in its misfortunes. A volatile global economy has created an array of abandoned luxury hotels across the world.
Decadent past —
Sammezzano isn't alone in its misfortunes. A volatile global economy has created an array of abandoned luxury hotels across the world.
Courtesy Alessandro Frignani
In Japan, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fviolent_crumble%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">photographer Shane Thoms</a> has been capturing niche but growing "ruin" tourism for his upcoming Melbourne exhibition, "Haikyo: The Modern Ruins of Japan."
Hachijo Oriental Resort, Japan —
In Japan, photographer Shane Thoms has been capturing niche but growing "ruin" tourism for his upcoming Melbourne exhibition, "Haikyo: The Modern Ruins of Japan."
Shane Thoms
Thoms created his series to highlight the hundreds of abandoned luxury hotels and abodes lying empty, forgotten and left to decay across Japan. The exhibition opens on December 8, 2016, taking place -- perhaps fittingly -- at Melbourne's five-star luxury Sofitel hotel.
Japan's lost hotels —
Thoms created his series to highlight the hundreds of abandoned luxury hotels and abodes lying empty, forgotten and left to decay across Japan. The exhibition opens on December 8, 2016, taking place -- perhaps fittingly -- at Melbourne's five-star luxury Sofitel hotel.
Shane Thoms
Hachijo, an island once called the "Hawaii of Japan" is home to the Oriental Resort hotel. Desolate for over a decade, the hotel was closed in 2005 after failing to attract enough guests to warrant employing the staff needed to upkeep it.
'Hawaii' of Japan —
Hachijo, an island once called the "Hawaii of Japan" is home to the Oriental Resort hotel. Desolate for over a decade, the hotel was closed in 2005 after failing to attract enough guests to warrant employing the staff needed to upkeep it.
Shane Thoms
The Hachijo's stunning sea views can still be seen from crumbling rooms full of mold. Opened in 1963, the building's architecture emulated French baroque and initially catered to Japan's expanding middle class.
Damp room, sea views —
The Hachijo's stunning sea views can still be seen from crumbling rooms full of mold. Opened in 1963, the building's architecture emulated French baroque and initially catered to Japan's expanding middle class.
Shane Thoms
Amid economic decline in the mid 1990s, clientele numbers began to dwindle. Despite several rebrands, the hotel never recovered.
Last orders at the bar —
Amid economic decline in the mid 1990s, clientele numbers began to dwindle. Despite several rebrands, the hotel never recovered.
Shane Thoms
The U.S. side of Niagara Falls might pull in 12 million annual visitors but the Fallside Inn is a sign of different times, says urban explorer <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fabandoned_america%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Matthew Christopher</a>.
Fallside Inn, Niagara Falls —
The U.S. side of Niagara Falls might pull in 12 million annual visitors but the Fallside Inn is a sign of different times, says urban explorer Matthew Christopher.
Matthew Christopher
When it opened in 1957, the Fallside Inn had a pool, tennis courts, hot tubs, a conference center and ballroom. Today, peeling paint falls on the floor of its rooms. The retro telephone and wall hangings give an indication of its age.
Faded 1950s design —
When it opened in 1957, the Fallside Inn had a pool, tennis courts, hot tubs, a conference center and ballroom. Today, peeling paint falls on the floor of its rooms. The retro telephone and wall hangings give an indication of its age.
Matthew Christopher
The Fallside is soon to be reborn. Work has begun by new owners to update the luxury hotel.
Second chance —
The Fallside is soon to be reborn. Work has begun by new owners to update the luxury hotel.
Matthew Christopher
Abandoned by industry, Detroit's declining fortunes have been well documented. The Lee Plaza hotel -- its ballroom pictured here -- is among many buildings left to decay.
Lee Plaza Hotel, Detroit —
Abandoned by industry, Detroit's declining fortunes have been well documented. The Lee Plaza hotel -- its ballroom pictured here -- is among many buildings left to decay.
Courtesy Matthew Christopher
In Germany, once cherished tourist hotspots were lost to the Cold War. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Finstagram.com%2Frichterchristian" target="_blank" target="_blank">Photographer Christian Richter</a> spent his teenage years exploring the abandoned buildings of what was then communist East Germany.
Ballroom of abandoned castle, Germany —
In Germany, once cherished tourist hotspots were lost to the Cold War. Photographer Christian Richter spent his teenage years exploring the abandoned buildings of what was then communist East Germany.
Courtesy Christian Richter
Richter grew up amongst the derelict landscape of the former German Democratic Republic. Inns were popular in East Germany -- all complete with a bar, a ballroom and theater -- but after reunionification with West Germany, people moved and they fell into disuse.
Lobby of hotel abandoned for 20 years, Germany —
Richter grew up amongst the derelict landscape of the former German Democratic Republic. Inns were popular in East Germany -- all complete with a bar, a ballroom and theater -- but after reunionification with West Germany, people moved and they fell into disuse.
Courtesy Christian Richter
Richter's photo collection features more than 1,000 abandoned buildings across Germany, Poland, France and Italy.
Staircase of vacant mansion, France —
Richter's photo collection features more than 1,000 abandoned buildings across Germany, Poland, France and Italy.
Courtesy Christian Richter
"I find beauty in decay, especially in abandoned hotels, castles and old mansions," says Richter. "Sad, but beautiful all the same." Even villas are transient, he adds.
Mansion vacant for 24 years, Italy —
"I find beauty in decay, especially in abandoned hotels, castles and old mansions," says Richter. "Sad, but beautiful all the same." Even villas are transient, he adds.
Courtesy Christian Richter
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, Mozambique's Grande Hotel is home to around 3,500 squatters since shutting in 1963. Opened in 1954, "the pride of Africa" never attracted the amount of guests originally envisioned.
Grande Hotel, Beira, Mozambique —
Overlooking the Indian Ocean, Mozambique's Grande Hotel is home to around 3,500 squatters since shutting in 1963. Opened in 1954, "the pride of Africa" never attracted the amount of guests originally envisioned.
Courtesy Fellipe Abreu
In its current state, it's hard to picture the opulence of the Grande Hotel's glory days -- it was said to be a place of unlimited luxury with intricately carved art deco designs and an Olympic pool. Today, "entire families live by every point of the hotel, including the stairs. The conditions in terms of sanitation are completely terrible," says photojournalist <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffellipeabreu_fotografia%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Fellipe Abreu</a>.
Art deco architecture —
In its current state, it's hard to picture the opulence of the Grande Hotel's glory days -- it was said to be a place of unlimited luxury with intricately carved art deco designs and an Olympic pool. Today, "entire families live by every point of the hotel, including the stairs. The conditions in terms of sanitation are completely terrible," says photojournalist Fellipe Abreu.
Courtesy Fellipe Abreu