Rocchetta Alta - ghost town suspended in time

23 September 2025

Tuesday, after lessons, was a visit to an abandoned town. Nestled among the Mainarde mountains, along the territory marking the border between Lazio and Molise, Rocchetta Alta is a place immersed in nature just a stone's throw from the sources of the Volturno River. It is an ancient medieval centre that was completely abandoned during in the 1900's, due initially to numerous landslides, caused by deforestation, and then to depopulation due to lack of employment options.

Visiting Rocchetta Alta today means walking through small alleys framed by ruins and remnants, witnesses to ancient architectures that once stood within the confines of a village immersed in nature. Here, you will find abandoned stone houses, the building that was once the Town Hall, a school, and some shops, including those of a barber and a tailor, allowing one to dive into history and discover a bygone era.