The planet is brimming with humanity’s creations, and while most of our buildings, cities, parks and subway stations still bustle with life, some have been abandoned or simply forgotten.
By taking a brief look at the neglected architecture, we can, in a way, bring them back to life — although some have already been repurposed or reclaimed. Experience these uncanny places from a distance, or when possible, walk among their forsaken structures, reveling in the ingenuity and ghosts of our collective past.
Lake Reschen
Where: South Tyrol, Italy
In northern Italy, near the borders with Austria and Switzerland, you’ll find the manmade Lake Reschen and the lonely, somber steeple and bell tower of Graun’s (the town the lake displaced) 14th-century church, jutting right out of the water. It’s a striking sight, framed by the surrounding Alps, driving home the fact that nothing lasts forever.
Insider Tip: If you’d like to touch the bell tower with your own hands, visit in winter when the lake freezes over, and then simply walk out and lay gloves upon the cold stone.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Lombardy and the Lakes Travel Guide
Varosha
Where: Famagusta, Cyprus
Varosha was once a luxury seaside resort in the Cypriot town of Famagusta. After the division of Cyprus between Greek Cypriots and Turks in 1974, Varosha was fenced off by the Turkish military and then forgotten by time. The beaches are still magnificent, but if you surreptitiously “check in” to a derelict hotel, expect to wait a very long time for room service to arrive.
Insider Tip: While visits to Varosha are currently prohibited, views of the abandoned resort can be had from just outside the surrounding fence, and several “tourist” viewpoints dotted around the resort.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Cyprus Travel Guide
Salto Hotel
Where: San Antonio del Tequendama, Colombia
The Salto Hotel, clinging to the side of a precipitous incline, is situated next to the roaring Tequendama Falls. This once lavish hotel offered spectacular views of the cascading Bogota River, and the verdant mountains cradling it. Alas, the hotel was eventually abandoned, but years later, the Tequendama Falls Museum of Biodiversity and Culture took over the premises. The incredible views, however, have always remained the same.
Insider Tip: The road to the old hotel is treacherous, to say the least. If you’re not sure about driving in Colombia, book a tour to get you there instead.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Colombia Travel Guide
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