Colletta di Castelbianco: How an Abandoned Village in Italy Became a Paradise for Solitude Lovers (27 photos + 2 videos)

High on the steep slopes of the Maritime Alps, where the air smells of sea and pine, exactly halfway between bustling Genoa and luxurious Nice, lies Colletta di Castelbianco.





At first glance, it's not a village, but a simple postcard from the past: the rough stone of the old walls, terracotta roofs, and blue window frames, as if tinted with watercolors.



But behind this patina of centuries lies a bold 21st-century secret. Every home has fiber optics and satellite TV, and the local business center allows you to hold a teleconference, send a fax, or run a presentation. This is a place where the spirit of antiquity coexists harmoniously with digital noise.





The story of Colletta is tragic and typical of Italy. Founded in the 13th century as a fortress against Saracen pirates, the village slowly died for centuries. The final blow was the earthquake of 1887. By the 1950s, Colletta had become the perfect setting for a post-apocalyptic film—a typical ghost town, forgotten by gods and men.



It seemed like the end. But in the late 1990s (it all actually started in 1995), a miracle happened. A group of crazy enthusiasts and the brilliant architect Giancarlo De Carlo decided: "Why not make this a paradise for those who love to work and live in solitude?"



Thus, the ruins were transformed into Europe's first "e-village." The project offered a chance for rebirth, offering the opportunity to live in the absolute tranquility of the Ligurian countryside without being cut off from the global information sphere.



By 2008, the most expensive house here cost €587,000. Now prices start at €220,000 for a studio apartment. However, they produce excellent olive oil here, and concerts and art exhibitions are held on weekends. The village has become the European capital of rock climbing and trekking, offering everything for comfortable living and working: a restaurant/bar with a panoramic terrace, a small village shop, a library, a laundry, and a swimming pool.



The transformation of Colletta from ruins in the 1950s to an elite techno village in the 2020s is one of the most inspiring examples of architectural revival in Europe.





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