High in the mountains of Italy’s southern Campania region lies the ancient, abandoned hamlet of Roscigno Vecchia, where time stands still and history whispers through the narrow streets.
At the heart of this ghost town lives an unlikely hero, Giuseppe Spagnuolo, the 74-year-old man who has embraced solitude in the remnants of a once-thriving community.
Every morning, as the first light breaks, Spagnuolo wakes to a routine that has remained unchanged for a quarter of a century.
He told The Guardian he starts his day at 6am, as breakfast consists of the leftovers of the previous night’s dinner. The company of stray cats, his self-proclaimed “security guards,” keeps him company in his solitary existence.
With a heartwarming simplicity, he greets the day by splashing his face with water from the square’s fountain, the same fountain that was once the heartbeat of a bustling town.
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Roscigno Vecchia, founded in 1515, was home to a vibrant community until the early 20th century when the inhabitants were forced to evacuate due to landslide risks.
While a new town, Roscigno Nuovo, emerged a kilometre away, Spagnuolo found his solace in the abandoned alleys of Vecchia. In 1997, he moved into a dilapidated house without electricity or running water, embracing a life of seclusion that many might find daunting.
Spagnuolo’s journey is not just a tale of solitude but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. He left the comfort of his home at 14, working as an apprentice carpenter in Lombardy. His later years saw him finding love, raising a family, and eventually returning to Roscigno Nuovo. Yet, challenges led him back to Vecchia, where he now resides, surrounded by the echoes of the past.
Despite being the hamlet’s only inhabitant, Spagnuolo has become a global sensation, a symbol of resilience and tenacity.
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Tourists, drawn by his story, often visit, bringing with them gifts and a touch of the outside world. His role as a de facto tour guide has helped reintroduce Roscigno Vecchia to the world map, making it a destination of curiosity and wonder.
Roscigno Vecchia’s Mayor, Pino Palmieri, acknowledges Spagnuolo’s value to the community. Despite the hamlet not qualifying for funding from a €1billion Covid recovery fund, Mayor Palmieri recognised the potential for cultural and historical preservation.
Efforts are underway to restore the church, repair the winding road leading to Vecchia, and open up the Monte Pruno archaeological site to tourists.
Spagnuolo, with his wealth of knowledge, has become an essential point of reference for visitors, enriching their experience of the ancient town.
For Spagnuolo, the world outside might be ever-changing, but his daily routine remains steadfast. Unfazed by the passage of time, he continues to live a life that he has chosen, one day at a time.
In his solitude, he has found contentment, and in the process, he has unwittingly become the guardian of Roscigno Vecchia’s legacy, ensuring that the town, though abandoned, is never forgotten.
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