Mysterious lights in the old Valley of Mills, an abandoned gorge in the middle of an Italian city (6 photos)

Many believe that these are just myths and legends invented to entertain tourists. But who knows, perhaps something mysterious and mysterious is really hidden in this canyon.





The city of Sorrento is located in the Campania region of Italy. It was inhabited back in the Stone Age, about 50 thousand years ago. Volcanic eruptions took place here, historical events unfolded and famous people lived here, such as Goethe, Wagner, Nietzsche, Gorky and others.

Now Sorrento attracts many tourists who want to see the sights of the city and its surroundings. One of the most unusual attractions is located in the city center - the Valley of Mills in Piazza Tasso.



After a powerful volcanic eruption about 35 thousand years ago, deep canyons were formed in the place where Sorrento is now located. There are five such valleys in the city that are still preserved. Researchers suggest that they became the natural boundaries of the possessions of the peoples who lived here.

The first settlements appeared in the valleys at the beginning of the 10th century. Later, warehouses, sawmills, laundry facilities, and mills began to be built in the canyons.





They all worked thanks to the streams that flowed along the bottom of the canyon. In subsequent years, factories for the production of paper, flax and cotton appeared here.

However, during industrialization in Sorrento, as throughout Italy, water mills lost their importance. In the 1940s, production moved to other areas, and the brick buildings began to be covered with plants.



The last mill closed in the 17th century. In the humid environment at the bottom of the canyon, plants began to grow faster, and soon the buildings were covered in jungle.

In 1866, a central square was built in Sorrento, which was named after the poet Torquato Tasso. To do this, part of the canyon had to be filled in, and it turned into a closed ecosystem with an even more humid climate. The streams turned into a swamp, and the plants grew even larger.



Now in the center of Sorrento you can see a deep canyon with the ruins of an old mill. From the bridge at Piazza Tasso there is a beautiful view of the Valley of the Mills. To go down into the canyon, you need to have special equipment and skills.

Some local residents claim to have heard sounds and seen lights coming from the windows of the mill. Such reports were also received by the local police, but nothing unusual was discovered.



But sometimes local residents notice the light again, and some tourists specially come here at night to try to catch the mysterious sight.