“Take nothing but pictures…leave nothing but footprints”
So began a journey to Balestrino, my daughter and I were watching “Inkheart” and I found the village it was filmed in is near our house in Veravo. I set out to discover what I could and found more than I bargained for.
Slowly consumed by time
The castle watching over the deserted village
Untouched
Time collapses…. this village lives outside time
A memory place
ancient paths through endless corridors taken over by nature
Balconies, doorways, peeling layers of paint as thin as parchment, an old shoe, a discarded bike
A stray cat
Their owners gone leaving only silence
Empty houses, quiet streets, an ancient clock no longer needed
image credits ~ one, two, three, four, five, six
After falling in love with Balestrino I was distressed to come across these images on a website. These men go into abandoned villages and remove the doors which they then make into tables and sell ….. they took three from Balestrino. Sadly they are quite proud of the fact.
These abandoned Villages are fragments of time, they need to be protected not exploited.
Further Reading and Images
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
OH NO. How are they allowed to do that and no-one is stopping them? That’s not right..those doors are part of a house. Its history, its right to be there.
Isnt that stealing? Consider they are then selling them as coffee tables
Lisa Wood recently posted..Monday Featured Travel Blogger Travel Mama
It is such a shame that some people take advantage without thought for others. I also think it’s stealing and vandalism, yes the village may be in ruin yet the character is strong as ever, as I say to our children when we go bushwalking…if everyone took a wildflower there wouldn’t be any left for the next person to see. x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Feeling Nostalgic
I LUV the film of the village Balestrino! An abandoned village just waiting for a new generation to breathe new life into it. Shall we go for it Lisa?
And for those numpties stealing, or if you like ‘taking’ doors in which to breathe life into them – its sooo not right on many levels. I’m constantly feeling chuft that people restore, or leave their old doors attached to their homes, it adds so much character to the home/village.
I understand that people need ‘new’ doors for heating, etc,however, there are ways around it. Only yesterday I was ever so pleased to see that one owner had kept his old door, however, infront of it was a sheet of glass for a door to protect it.
Susan Heslington recently posted..Italian Moving Network
Isn’t it a wonderful video Susan, I thought of you when I found it. How wonderful such a project would be for us…like heaven! I have heard that there is talk of restoring the old village of Balestrino but could find nothing definate.
Our house in Gambasca had the most incredible original doors complete with hand made nails. There is no way to replace these if stolen. I feel so outraged by these guys and hope someone can track them down to sort this out.
xx
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Memories of Salina ~ we find the family home
Too sad history being destroyed, happening everywhere in all forms!! These guys look like they are so proud of their “catch” !
Carla x
Yes Carla it is happening in so many countries not just here. Once gone it can’t be replaced and when researching for this post I came across the most incredible images from professional and amateur photographers. Many featured an old bike, clearly photos were taken and then the bike left in place (seems to move around and I love that) nobody thought to take it home and hang it on the wall. These guys are Proud and have a website which is where I found them, the image of the “red” room is from their flickr page and I put a link if anyone wants to see more.
I’ve been loving your images and photo workshop ideas,
Your “Chasing a Dream” book which I won is something my daughter and I sit and look through at random every few nights, we talk about which images we like and why…. she has a unique child’s eye which I love xxx
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Memories of Salina ~ we find the family home
I would love to be able to breathe new life into such a village, maybe we need to consider setting up a commune Lisa.
Thanks also for your kind words on my recent post my virtual friend. xx
lindyloumacinitaly recently posted..Castiglione del Lago, Umbria.
Ohhhh yes it would be wonderful to be able to “read” the village back to life.I did read that there were plans for this village but could find nothing definite.It would be such a joy to know it is safe and rejuvenated for the community there, perhaps not to live in but for those who come to see it from all over the world. xxx
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Feeling Nostalgic
http://www.tuscanyvillages.com/lignana-a-medieval-village-only-the-stones-remain/ Hey Lisa, here’s another deserted village in Tuscany. Not much to take as it was deserted in the middle ages, and only a couple of buildings and lotsa stones remain. Its a great hiking trail near me. ps, that’s me in the video – could have collapsed when I got to the top! LOL.
Maybe I got carried away with the dramatic music – but that’s just how I saw it;-)
@lindyloumacinitaly ok, count me in that commune!
Susan Heslington recently posted..Italian Moving Network
Susan what a beautiful story, especially the village created for the women being called “Paradiso”. It looks like a steep climb to find it and what a great reward for your efforts to be so rewarded at the top. Considering it was deserted in the Middle Ages the beams in some of the buildings look like new. Thanks so much for sharing your video and I think the music is perfect!!
It’s people like yourself who give hope to these old villages by bringing the stories to life.
x
Thanks Lisa, its an absolute pleasure to show off these gems as much as possible, especially since there are many people like yourself who appreciate them.
The church has recently been renovated to help preserve part of Lignana’s remnants.
Susan Heslington recently posted..Italian Moving Network
I’m so happy to hear that they have preserved the Church, hopefully as more people show interest in these villages more will be saved x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..A Dream of Italy – The Field Stones of Umbria
Lisa this is SO beautiful and the plundering is an abomination. The same happens in Crete, Greece – little old abandoned villages are plundered for their old pots, doors ( which are made into coffee tables … familiar?) and windows and shutters. Thanks for sharing – they need to be stopped somehow – but unfortunately there will always be a market for them.. and as long as there’s a market…… Ciao Bella F xx
Francesca Muir recently posted..Indonesian Jukung fishing boats
I hope the market will realise that this is just tearing the heart out of these villages, you are so right when there is a market there will be those willing to exploit it. I was surprised they were so blatant with the website and photos even the names of villages they had taken doors from. x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Dreams of Italy – moment to moment, an update
Don’t know if you’re familiar with the work of this man who is investing in these old villages and restoring them. http://www.sextantio.it/grotte-civita/
Oh wow Shelagh this is just amazing. What a fantastic site I’ve just been showing my husband. So beautifully restored and simple styling which I love. Thanks so much for sharing this with me. ciao lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..Balestrino – Inkheart and Coffee Tables
I just watched Inkheart for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and just got the first book last week and have loved both of them.
SO glad you were able to see this village, so sad to hear those men are getting away with stealing these beautiful doors. 
Krista recently posted..A Little Break at a Mexican Beach
Hey Krista I’ll have to see if I can get the books at the library I’d love to read them. Carina is reading the first Harry Potter and I so love to see her with nose in a book! It is so thoughtless for people to take from history with no thought for others. sending love x