<strong>Ghost town: </strong>On the island of Sicily, the beautiful old town of Poggioreale has stood deserted since 1968, when a devastating earthquake prompted many residents to flee.
Ghost town: On the island of Sicily, the beautiful old town of Poggioreale has stood deserted since 1968, when a devastating earthquake prompted many residents to flee.
Courtesy Giacinto Musso
<strong>Time stands still: </strong>Most of the town is still standing, apparently frozen in time since the disaster.
Time stands still: Most of the town is still standing, apparently frozen in time since the disaster.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Back to life:</strong> Now the mayor of a new Poggioreale town built further down the valley wants to bring the old buildings back to life.
Back to life: Now the mayor of a new Poggioreale town built further down the valley wants to bring the old buildings back to life.
Silvia Marchetti
"Ever since the 1968 earthquake, this stunning village has been empty," Mayor Girolamo Cangelosi tells CNN Travel. "I want to bring it back from the grave and make it shine again as it did in the past."
"Ever since the 1968 earthquake, this stunning village has been empty," Mayor Girolamo Cangelosi tells CNN Travel. "I want to bring it back from the grave and make it shine again as it did in the past."
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>International appeal: </strong>Cangelosi has embarked on a global tour to try to drum up investment in Poggioreale, targeting former residents who moved overseas after the quake.
International appeal: Cangelosi has embarked on a global tour to try to drum up investment in Poggioreale, targeting former residents who moved overseas after the quake.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>American cousins: </strong>About 5,000 former residents are now living in the United States, scattered between New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Louisiana. Another 4,000 are thought to live in Australia.
American cousins: About 5,000 former residents are now living in the United States, scattered between New York, Texas, Massachusetts and Louisiana. Another 4,000 are thought to live in Australia.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Connected to home: </strong>"I'm touring the world to reconnect with local families who have long left but still feel a strong attachment to their hometown and want to help," Mayor Cangelosi says.
Connected to home: "I'm touring the world to reconnect with local families who have long left but still feel a strong attachment to their hometown and want to help," Mayor Cangelosi says.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Reversing the decline: </strong>Poggioreale is the latest depopulated town in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy to try radical approaches to halt their slide into oblivion. A series of other locations have sold off old homes for as little as one euro -- or just over a dollar -- to people willing to move in.
Reversing the decline: Poggioreale is the latest depopulated town in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy to try radical approaches to halt their slide into oblivion. A series of other locations have sold off old homes for as little as one euro -- or just over a dollar -- to people willing to move in.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Regal past: </strong>Poggioreale, whose name translates as "the royal mound," was founded in 1642 by a prince who was gifted the area by Ferdinand IV, the Bourbon king of Spain and Sicily.
Regal past: Poggioreale, whose name translates as "the royal mound," was founded in 1642 by a prince who was gifted the area by Ferdinand IV, the Bourbon king of Spain and Sicily.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Good facilities:</strong> In theory, it shouldn't take much to restore Poggioreale to something like its former glory. The town has good facilities, albeit in bad shape. There's a theater, library, hospital, marketplace, orphanage and even a small inn for wayfarers.
Good facilities: In theory, it shouldn't take much to restore Poggioreale to something like its former glory. The town has good facilities, albeit in bad shape. There's a theater, library, hospital, marketplace, orphanage and even a small inn for wayfarers.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Upscale upgrade: </strong>The mayor's goal is to turn Poggioreale into a niche vacation retreat with picturesque dwellings, boutiques, artisan shops, restaurants, bars and B&Bs.
Upscale upgrade: The mayor's goal is to turn Poggioreale into a niche vacation retreat with picturesque dwellings, boutiques, artisan shops, restaurants, bars and B&Bs.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Failed rescue:</strong> Reminders of the tragedy are still visible. Underneath a fallen roof lies a crushed 1960s ambulance, emblazoned with a red cross. Its wheels are turned to the right -- it was exiting from the garage when the ground shook. It never made it out to rescue those in need.
Failed rescue: Reminders of the tragedy are still visible. Underneath a fallen roof lies a crushed 1960s ambulance, emblazoned with a red cross. Its wheels are turned to the right -- it was exiting from the garage when the ground shook. It never made it out to rescue those in need.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Training ground: </strong>Today part of Poggioreale's old town is used as a training ground for earthquake rescuers and their dogs.
Training ground: Today part of Poggioreale's old town is used as a training ground for earthquake rescuers and their dogs.
Silvia Marchetti
<strong>Local heroes: </strong>The mayor isn't alone in his mission to revitalize the ghost town. A group of volunteers, headed by Giacinto Musso, has been toiling to preserve the site and recover lost objects.
Local heroes: The mayor isn't alone in his mission to revitalize the ghost town. A group of volunteers, headed by Giacinto Musso, has been toiling to preserve the site and recover lost objects.
Silvia Marchetti
"Poggioreale is not a dead town," says Musso, who offers his service in the town each day as a living witness. "It's alive and my life mission is to prevent it falling into oblivion."
"Poggioreale is not a dead town," says Musso, who offers his service in the town each day as a living witness. "It's alive and my life mission is to prevent it falling into oblivion."
Silvia Marchetti