Careggine
The Story of Fabbriche di Careggine
Fabbriche di Careggine is a ghost town in the province of Lucca, located in the municipality of Careggine. Its foundation dates back to the thirteenth century when a colony of iron workers from Brescia settled there. Fabbriche di Careggine became one of the largest iron suppliers in the state, equipped with a mill and transport facilities for materials. The decline of this center coincided with the decline of the Vandelli road and the outbreak of famine and starvation that hit the town's residents. However, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the town's economy resumed thanks to the exploitation of marble in the nearby town of Vagli, leading to the construction of a small hydroelectric power plant on the Edron River to serve the marble basins.
Abandonment and Submergence of the Town
Under fascist regime, the Selt-Valdarno company decided to build a hydroelectric reservoir by blocking the course of the Edron stream in the municipality of Vagli Sotto. Between 1947 and 1953, a 92-meter-high dam capable of holding 32,000,000 m³ of water was built, gradually submerging the medieval village of Fabbriche di Careggine, consisting of 31 houses and inhabited by 146 people. The residents were relocated to the new housing in Vagli Sotto, built to faithfully reproduce the evacuated medieval village layout.
Resurfacing of the Town
The Vagli Lake has been drained four times for dam maintenance work, revealing the ghost town. However, this event, which was scheduled every ten years, has only occurred four times: in 1958, 1974, 1983, and 1994. The next draining, which was planned for 2016, has been postponed to 2022 by the facility operator.
The Tibetan Bridge Project
In November 2010, the construction of a wooden and steel Tibetan bridge to cross the Vagli Lake was planned. However, the bridge was only completed in 2016. Now it is possible to cross the lake and admire the ghost village that resurfaced from the waters.
Fabbriche di Careggine has a fascinating history and unique beauty that make it one of the most interesting places to visit in Italy. Its history has been marked by the country's economic evolution, submergence, and resurfacing. Today, thanks to the reopening of the Tibetan bridge, it is possible to visit the ghost town and admire its stone houses, cemetery, three-arched bridge, Romanesque church of San Teodoro, and ruined bell tower. Come and discover this enchanted place in Tuscany!
