Italy’s “ghost town” has been revived by a vibrant mural of 140 people to boost local tourism
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The abandoned ghost town of southern Italy has come to life thanks to over 140 vibrant murals. Street Art Hotspot.
The area’s population was shrinking as young people were left for work and fewer babies were born there, news agency SWNS reported.
Local artist Reno Lombardi, 57, was irritated by seeing his hometown crumble and launched Stramurales in 2017, the annual street art festival.
“At first I thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t see the town disappear,” Lombardi said. “I started looking at the wall as a blank canvas. It could turn into something beautiful.”
The festival invited artists from all over the world. Painting the muralsix were created at the first event in 2018.
Today, over 140 murals are seen around Strunara in the Puglia region, representing each year exciting themes, including agriculture, migration within Italy and local life. Residents vote on topics every year.
The abandoned ghost town of southern Italy has transformed it into a tourist magnet thanks to over 140 vibrant murals, including the walls mentioned above. (Luciano Magaldi Sardella/SWS)
Tourism has skyrocketed 25% since 2020, triggering the opening of eight new businesses, SWNS said. Restaurant and B&B.
Locals say that as young families return, the population stops shrinking and is growing slowly again.
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Café owner Antonio Magliony was about to close his business before the murals brought crowds and learned to speak the word “welcome” in five different languages.
“The murals saved my business, but more than that, they saved our community,” Maglione said.
One cafe owner was about to close his business. Then murals like the ones mentioned above brought crowds to the area where they had made them learn to say the word “welcome” in five different languages. (Luciano Magaldi Sardella/SWS)
Rita Jensano returned after 20 years apart.
She said first, it felt like she had entered a ghost town.
“The murals saved my business, but more than that, they saved our community.”
“It felt like a sacrifice,” she said. “But it’s become extraordinary.”
Now a tour guide, she calls Stornara “the coolest town in Italy.”
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said Salvatore Nappi, a retired olive farmer The mural helped the residents Reclaim their pride.
“We had lost pride, but the mural reminded us that our town and our stories are worth celebrating,” SWNS reported.
“We were losing pride, but the murals reminded us that our town and our stories are worth celebrating,” said the retired olive farmer. (Luciano Magaldi Sardella/SWS)
Lombardi has founded a nonprofit organization that runs art workshops to keep high school students alive with their creative spirit.
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“Art not only adorns our walls, but also reminds us that we can dream big in small places,” Lombardi said.
“Art not only adorns our walls, but also reminds us that we can dream big in small places.” (Luciano Magaldi Sardella/SWS)
According to SWNS, other struggling towns are seeking help after Stornara’s success.
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“We never became a case study, but if our experience can help other communities, that makes even more sense,” Lombardi said.
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The 2025 Stramurales Festival features artists All Continents first time.