3 mysterious destinations in Italy

Entire travel guides have been written about the most beautiful destinations in Italy. The internet is also brimming with tips about the idyllic villages on Lake Garda, the cities of Milan and Rome and the beautiful green hills in Tuscany.

DitIsItaly.nl would DitIsItaly.nl not be if we don't also pay attention to the other Italy would spend. That is why today we take you to 3 mysterious destinations in Italy that you will certainly not find in every travel guide.

Camerano: the underground city

'There is more Camerano under the ground than above it' is a frequently heard slogan in the vicinity of Camerano, located in the Italian region The Marches. Under the current modern village of Camerano is a complete underground city.

Nobody knows exactly from which century it dates or by whom it was built. What is certain is that the underground city has evolved over the centuries to meet the needs of the inhabitants. Scientists estimate that the first caves date back to the 3rd century BC.

Storing food

It is likely that the underground passages were originally dug to store food and to protect the population when needed. In the following centuries, the caves were continuously adapted and made wider.

The fact that architectural masterpieces such as domes and arches have also been used in the caves to make them more beautiful proves that the caves no longer only served as protection, but had acquired a much more important function.

There are even the remains of two churches with religious symbols and ornaments. Most recently, the underground city was used as a bunker during World War II.

Sacra di San Michele: the symbolic monument of Piedmont

The Sacra di San Michele is a monastery (although its size makes it look more like a fortress) on Mount Pirchiriano near the Valle di Susa mountain valley in Piedmont. The monastery's imposing location, rich history and artistic value have resulted in the complex being legally established in 1994 as the symbolic monument of the Piedmont region.

The name of the rose

The monastery is also said to have been the inspiration for Umberto Eco's popular novel The name of the rose. And that's not the only mysterious story in which the monastery plays a leading role.

Tower of the Beautiful Alda

Completely isolated from the rest of the complex stands the Torre della Bell'Alda (the Tower of the Beautiful Alda). Legend has it that this beautiful Alda threw herself from this tower to avoid the soldiers who had invaded the monastery. Miraculously, she survived the fall without dying or even being injured. Out of pride, Alda then tried to jump out of the tower again, but the second time, fate was not so kind to her.

In addition to this legend, mysterious details can be found in the monastery. This is how you reach the monastery via the Scalone dei Mortic (the Stairway of the Dead). It got this name because until 1936, skeletons of some monks were exhibited on the stairs. Once at the top you will find the Porta dello Zodiaco (the Door of the Zodiac) in which the 12 constellations and constellations are carved.

Monterano: the lost city

North of Rome you will find the remains of the abandoned city of Monterano. The city has its origins in the Bronze Age but only really prospered in the Etruscan period between the 5th and 4th century BC. As the Romans slowly lost their power, Monterano also lost its status. The city has fallen into different hands over the centuries and has always had peaks and valleys.

Growing City

During the times when the city was doing well, the infrastructure was improved and, for example, aqueducts were built to meet the needs of the growing city. A number of structures, including the basilica, were even designed by the renowned sculptor and architect Lorenzo Bernini. When things got worse, the inhabitants then moved en masse from Monterano, fearing that the city would not be able to recover this time.

Malaria

The final blow for Monterano was the outbreak of malaria in 1770, in which a large part of the inhabitants died. The survivors took refuge in nearby villages. After that, the city was never rebuilt and became an abandoned city. The special remains can still be visited.