- Villages
- Active & Green
Rovaiolo Vecchio
A ghost town in the Oltrepò Pavese, on the border with the province of Piacenza
Rovaiolo has a fascinating history. The village is actually divided into two parts: Rovaiolo Nuovo and Rovaiolo Vecchio. The latter is now an abandoned village, consisting of a cluster of stone houses with characteristic black roofs, typical of past construction techniques.
After World War II, Rovaiolo Vecchio was evacuated due to concerns that erosion caused by the Avagnone stream could trigger a landslide. The inhabitants were relocated, founding a new settlement: Rovaiolo Nuovo. Over the years, however, despite being uninhabited, Rovaiolo Vecchio has not collapsed. Instead, it has preserved its historic charm, with potato fields still cultivated around it, earning it the nickname "Ghost Town."
Rovaiolo is not accessible by car—it can only be reached on foot or by bicycle.
