Residents of the southern Italian village of Craco, located in the Basilicata region, were forced to abandon their homes, shops, and church in the 1960s due to a series of natural disasters and poor infrastructure. The village, once a thriving community, was evacuated in 1963 after a landslide caused by unstable clay soil that had been soaked by leaking pipelines. This event marked the beginning of Craco’s decline, as the land it was built on was inherently fragile. Geological warnings dating back to 1910 had already highlighted the risks of building on such soil, but these concerns were ignored when modernization projects continued without proper oversight. The damage was compounded by a flood in 1972 and the Irpinia earthquake in 1980, which ultimately led to the complete abandonment of the village. Craco was founded nearly 800 years ago and had a fluctuating but stable population until the late 19th century. However, harsh living conditions led many residents to migrate, particularly to the United States. Between 1880 and 1910, it is estimated that over 1,300 people left Craco in search of better opportunities. The 1963 landslide delivered the final blow to a community already struggling with demographic decline. The village was constructed on clay rock, a type of soil that is highly sensitive to moisture. Poorly maintained pipelines during the decades before 1963 caused chronic leaks, which soaked the ground and led to structural instability. The situation worsened in 1972 with a severe flood that further weakened the already fragile buildings. The Irpinia earthquake of 1980, one of the most powerful in Italy’s history, pushed the last remaining residents to leave permanently. Today, Craco is a ghost town, its crumbling structures a haunting reminder of its past. The site was added to the World Monuments Fund's watch list in 2010, recognizing both its cultural significance and the ongoing risk of collapse. Due to safety concerns, visitors can only explore the ruins in guided tours, which cost around 11 euros per person. The original inhabitants of Craco now live in a nearby town called Craco Peschiera, which was established to accommodate those who evacuated in 1963. Today, the commune of Craco has approximately 700 residents, a fraction of what it once was. Despite its abandonment, Craco remains a symbol of both the dangers of environmental mismanagement and the resilience of communities forced to adapt to changing circumstances. Its ruins have also become a popular filming location, appearing in movies such as "Quantum of Solace," further preserving its legacy in popular culture.