#31 Why We Brought Our FAMILY to a Forgotten Italian GHOST TOWN

In this video, we take our family to an abandoned ghost town in Italy, uncovering a secret tragedy that ties us to its forgotten history. What happened here decades ago still haunts the empty streets, revealing a hidden past that changed everything. Join us as we explore the place where our family’s story and this town's fate collided.
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[@NyreeAlana]

The villiage is hauntingly beautiful! Thank you for sharing your family's memories of the villiage and the earthquake 🙏 I've not seen anything quite like that monument, and next to all that green farmland, beautiful! ❤

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

It is beautiful for what it was. It is frozen in time. Otherwise, it would have been changed and adapted to modern designs. The monument was something unique we had never seen before, too. But the surroundings were stuning. Sicily always had this history of beauty and disaster.

[@anyat8115]

I love visiting these kinds of often overlooked places. Thanks for taking us with you.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

We love it too! We love getting to know Sicilian places that are not on touristic maps.

[@anyat8115]

@@SomethingLikeThis1 If you ever go to Basilicata/Puglia area, go to Matera. It's amazing. Glad to see you taking a break from "farming" bc I know it's a lot of work.

[@Nicola050459]

I remember when that happened, I was 9 years old, we lived on the other side of Sicily, a small village about 35 km from Messina

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Many people have memories of the even as it was really shocking. You were almost the same age as my mother in law.

[@WriterJenOnYT]

This was fascinating, sad but an example of resilience and the strength of Siciliani.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Indeed! There are so many interesting stories in Sicily to explore. It was just a small part of it. But it was unique as it is part of out family.

[@s.n.6558]

Interesting story. But a trauma for your family. Greetings for your family from the Netherlands!❤

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Thank you! It was a very traumatising experience, but they managed to get through and live good lives.

[@miasicilia]

Really interesting seeing this, thanks ragazzi

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Thank you ❤️ It was interesting for us too 😊

[@whereseagullsfly8250]

So tragic. How lucky your family were. Thank you for sharing such a personal family story. The loss of buildings was such a tragedy, but especially homes and family history. xx

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

It was just a part of the story. Then, it was all that they had to go through to start new lives. But they were lucky to be alive, that's for sure! Thank you for watching ❤️

[@yvanapantino273]

This is one of the best videos you have done so far. It takes me back to remembering that 1968 earthquake (ho la stessa etá di tuo zio) and triggered the memory of the eruption of Vesuvius and the sheer terror. I'll be back in Sicily next year and my sons in 2 weeks will be in Palermo again. Their father did his military service in Trapani.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Thank you! It was an unbelievable moment for us to see it all and hear those stories. There were so many hardships encountered by Sicilians. It's always nice to come back to Sicily. Trapani area is wonderful.

[@OnaMuir]

So fun that you take us on tour an d teach the history. TY. 🤗

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Thank you! We were blessed to be a part of it too ❤️

[@joycef2499]

Sending love to all your family. ❤

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Very kind of you ❤️

[@alc4967]

Great video i enjoyed it very much! I was born the year after that earth quake, i remember my parents and aunts and uncles speaking about it for many years. I have been to the last part of your video the old Gibellina which is now covered over with concrete. Also i loved listening to your Zio and Mother speaking my italian dialect. I only can speak sicilian dialect, i used to speak it every single day, it was the first language i spoke as a child.. thanks for sharing this story!

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

@alc4967 Thank you for sharing your memories about it. It was a big tragedy and no wonder your family was talking about it for years. We are happy you enjoyed hearing some Sicilian too ❤️ It's a beautiful language!

[@PeterMccabe-h3q]

Beautiful and painfull memories .. Thanks for sharing this video Peter

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

It was such an eye opening experience to us as well. To hear those stories is one thing, but to see it, it was something else. They were happy to share their story and we are happy people can hear a part of what living in Sicily ment to someone.

[@mikec769]

Thank you for sharing your family's history as tragic as it was. Unfortunately, earthquakes are part of Sicilys' history. In September, we visited the village of Montevago that was part of the same devisation. The mayor of that village is dedicated to keeping the town a memorial and is currently restoring the massive duoma there. All the best to you and your family.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

It was interesting for us, and they wanted to share their story with the world. There was so much hardship afterwards having to restart their lives, but they all are so strong and managed to live beautiful and fulfilling lives in the end. Many places try to keep these towns as monuments.

[@Reet64]

A very moving video. A quick search on google shows how they rebuilt the town in a completely dystopian way. No heart to it. The never-ending wisdom of the powers that be. 😵‍💫

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

There is a new part of Poggioreale. But it doesn't have the same soul as people didn't really want to live nearby.

[@mirriamtemones6746]

Hugs 🎉

[@7TerriPod]

Yes, I remember hearing about this, my town is not too far from there. my town was also destroyed. If I can remember correctly a half a dozen towns were destroyed by that earthquake. I was very young ,we lived in America by that time. those people lived in Barricks for years before they could get a regular home.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

It affected so many people. You never know, the move to America might have saved your life. My family were lucky as they didn't have to live in barracks for too long.

[@eidrasa]

Such a toutching story... But off-topic - Brigita are you Lithuanian? I've opened your video, because I am looking for a stories about moving to Sicily and heard almost my accent!

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

@@eidrasa Thank you! Yes, I am Lithuanian 😉 😜 Well spotted. Where in Sicily would you like to move?

[@eidrasa]

@@SomethingLikeThis1 mes ieškojimuose, neseniai grįžom iš salos, sužavėjo visa šiaurė nuo Čefalu iki Mesinos

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

@@eidrasa Gražu ten! Daugiau žalumos negu mūsų pusėje. Planuojate visam kraustytis ar tik vasaros metu?

[@eidrasa]

@@SomethingLikeThis1 kol kas žiemojimo vietos ieškome, atrodo ten žiema visai primena mūsų vėsesnę vasarą 🙂

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

@@eidrasa Temperaturos ziema nukrenta iki 10 pas mus. Sausį, vasarį buna salciau. As sakyciau kaip velyvas lietuviškas rudenelis.

[@kellystoner277]

Funny how very few videos about Italian priperties, etc... ever mention The Mafia, especially in Sicily.

[@WireItalia]

Why should they? The mafia is in high powers, it no longer circulates between ordinary people and the Sicilians have already shed too much innocent blood to do it. There are Sicilians waiting for justice and truth. As Italians we have had too many deaths that we remember every day. Even for me who am Lombard it is not easy to joke about all the martyrs we have had.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

We never encountered them, so we don't have what to share about it. There are many sources to read about it.

[@antoninonovena3997]

Omg

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

Yes, it was something unbelievable 💔

[@chevyyyyyyy]

No trees.

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

?

[@peterford436]

Should have used the money and resources to rebuild something livevale...

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

The extent of the damage was too large to start rebuilding. Many people left and started new lives away from there.

[@tarabreslin8110]

Thank you for this. What a moving experience for us viewers. It was easy to envision the life of the town and the events of that fateful day through the memories of the two older people standing in their childhood home. I feel like I’ve been handed a gift: the opportunity to see Poggioreale through unique eyes. Time may forget Poggioreale, but we won’t. 🥹

[@SomethingLikeThis1]

It was such a unique experience to us, too! We listened to the stories, but only when we visited Poggioreale we felt what they really went through. After such a long time they remembered it so clearly. We hope this video will keep that story alive for longer.