The Medieval Italian Village of Fabbriche di Careggine Has Been Underwater For Decades, But Could Be Ready to Resurface

In 1946, residents of Fabbriche di Careggine, a 12th-century village in Tuscany, Italy, were relocated to a nearby town called Vagli di Sotto to make room for a new hydroelectric dam. Their old homes were submerged under a human-made lake. Each time the lake is drained for maintenance purposes, people flock to the region to see the medieval village resurface, which has only happened four times: in 1958, 1974, 1983, and 1994. According to Sky News, it might happen again next year.

Last month, Lorenza Giorgi, the daughter of Vagli di Sotto’s former mayor, shared on Facebook that “certain sources” had told her the lake would be emptied in 2021, and she hoped word would spread across social media and give the area a much-needed tourism boost. When the village made its most recent appearance in 1994, more than 1 million people came to see it. Though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, Enel, the company that operates the dam, told CNN that it’s formalizing a working group with the municipality to discuss tourism and redevelopment opportunities.

According to Visit Tuscany, Fabbriche di Careggine comprises several stone houses, a cemetery, a bridge, and the Church of San Teodoro. Early inhabitants were mainly blacksmiths who had emigrated from Brescia, Italy, in the 13th century, and the village became known for producing and selling ironmade goods.

While you’re waiting to find out if it’ll be open for visitors next year, check out these 10 other drowned towns around the world.