The ghost village of Ischiazza

<p>The small abandoned hamlet on the banks of the Avisio stream tells us about a world that no longer exists</p>

<p>The village of Ischiazza stood along the Avisio at the edge of a wide cultivated floodplain, about 700 meters downstream from the Stramentizzo dam. In 1966, it had 44 inhabitants. During the flood that severely affected the municipality of Valfloriana, incessant rains caused numerous landslides and mudflows that flooded the village. The same fate befell the hamlet of Maso, a few kilometers further downstream.</p> <p>The inhabitants of Ischiazza managed to save themselves by fleeing towards the higher hamlets. After the flood passed, they returned to the almost destroyed village to recover what was possible. On November 20, 1966, the survivors carried the Christ and the sacred furnishings of the church on their shoulders along the mule track to the upper hamlet of Casatta, thus sealing the death of Ischiazza.</p> <p>Our route starts from the hamlet of Pradel, where you take the beautiful paved mule track that gently descends towards Ischiazza: in the distance you can glimpse through the trees the magnificent Avisio stream flowing in the valley bottom. Just before reaching the ghost hamlet, on the left side of the road, you can see the ruins of an unusual building: it was a kiln used to dry corn. Today, only ruins remain of Ischiazza: you can recognize the little church, some large dilapidated rural buildings, and the old stone fountain that emerges from the ground.</p> <p>Crossing the village downhill, you can walk about 1 km along an easy path that runs alongside the Avisio stream with beautiful views. To return to the starting point, follow the same route back.</p>