The abandoned beauty of Italy's 20,000 ghost towns

Italy has nearly 20,000 ghost towns that are totally or partly abandoned, the locals having fled due to a mix of factors. 

Harsh living conditions, including lack of running water and electricity, pirate raids, natural calamities such as quakes and floods, bombings and massive emigration flows triggered by the appeal of a better life in larger cities and in the Americas, have all contributed to the abandoned villages.

But these crumbling ruins are secret gems stuck in a moment in time the rest of the world has long forgotten.

Yet it isn't just the curious tourists exploring Italy's ghost towns. 

Those looking for a deal can certainly get one here, and for a snip of the price of a London flat.

Offers are crazy: with a few thousand euros you can purchase one or more buildings. Then there are entire villages put on the market by the desperate few remaining residents, who hope to save their homes from crumbling back into the mountainous landscape. 

Indeed, there are even a few bargains to be had when it comes to snapping up your own hamlet. Pratariccia, which was put up for sale on eBay in 2012 for £2million, is now on sale once more - this time for just £1.84million.

The 800-year-old village of Prataricca, put on the market last month, has 25 properties which nestle up alongside fertile farmland - yet has been abandoned since the 60s.

Set in beautiful rolling hills 2,400ft above sea level, Pratariccia is only 25 miles east of Florence and close to the region of Italy dubbed ‘Chiantishire’ for its abundance of British residents and holidaymakers.

And yes, it is going to need a bit of work - but considering one ruins are given a make over their value may jump 300 per cent, it is certainly worth a go. 

But if you fancy something smaller, or just a nose around a few abandoned villages, then you could do worse than visiting some of these. 

(dailymail.co.uk)