Previously on Broken Window Theory:
During our urbex road trip through Northern Italy we came across this magnificent manor house.
It’s a modern era copy of a real medieval fortress that’s actually only 200 meters away.
After that we drove to this very old ghost town.
The site already has a thousand-year-long history but today everything lies in ruins.
Here we also discovered this stunning abandoned church.
But only a few hours later we were arriving at an even more impressive house of god that you will see in today’s video.
It’s already midnight when we’re reaching this totally secluded monastery on a hill.
Here we want to spend the night:
Inside this hundreds of years old church.
But before we pitch our tents we have to do some cleaning.
Due to the decades-long vacancy the floors are full with remnants of the decaying walls and lots of dust.
While The Proper People are planning to join us tomorrow, the three of us will stay here overnight.
As you can see we’re accompanied by our latest crew member: The Italian photographer Tobi_urbex.
This is the third morning of our urbex adventure in Italy.
But since we have already experienced so much, it feels like we’ve been on the road for much longer.
That’s why we’re slowing down the pace today.
We just want to enjoy the exploration of this beautiful site.
Now in daylight we realize the huge scale of the compound.
There are multiple major buildings we now want to explore one at a time.
The history of this site dates back to the 17th century.
Over the decades those buildings barely changed from the outside.
These images are from the early 20th century and today all the structures still look the same.
Around 350 years ago on this hill somewhere in Italy a hermitage was built.
In peaceful seclusion monks were living and praying here.
Most of the houses were constructed by them.
In order to do this, they were assisted by a well-known architect from the region.
But they still needed around 100 years to build up the whole area.
And even then, not everything was finished.
Actually, it was planned to construct even more buildings.
The church was one of the first buildings which got finished and it was consecrated around 1670.
Still today the nave is very impressive.
We’re wondering how stunning this Lord’s house must have been in its heyday.
However, around the time of World War One the church had already been desecrated.
So, for 100 years people haven’t been using this place for their prayers anymore.
You could nearly think that the place of worship has been untouched since then and spared vandals.
But actually, the place was looted multiple times in the past.
Among others the statue of Madonna was stolen and other sculptures had been destroyed.
If you now think all the buildings on the property might be that beautifully old and decayed like the church,
we unfortunately have to disappoint you.
This structure you can see right here is where the monks used to live back then.
But today nothing reminds of that time anymore.
Everything looks modern.
This is an extreme contrast to the church that’s even connected with this building via a hallway.
In fact, this part of the property belonged to a hospital.
But in order to explain this we have to continue with our history lesson.
The French Revolution had a major impact on all of Europe, including Italy.
After that, around 1800, the monastery was temporary closed and the church was raided for the first time.
Later the premises were used alternately by multiple Catholic orders for one whole century.
Until the hermitage was turned into a sanatorium by the Italian Red Cross in the End of the First World War.
Because of the isolation this site was just perfect for that.
War veterans and women with tuberculosis were treated here.
In the 1960s a new, way larger building was constructed in the park nearby.
The new complex was used as a hospital.
And this building right here was turned into a training facility only a short time later.
Doctors and nurses were instructed here or participated in refresher courses.
Until the end this structure was used as a teaching facility.
Plenty of books and devices which were used for training can still be found here.
The third important building on the compound is the hospital we just mentioned.
Meanwhile the whole park and even the parking lot have become totally overgrown.
Although the site has only been abandoned for five years now.
Explorers who look closely can already find some hospital inventory in the bushes.
Not long after the place was shut down, the first thieves and vandals came to rip the building apart.
By now it has nearly been completely destroyed.
It's hard to find a window that isn't smashed yet.
Doors and other things were simply tossed out of the upper floors.
This hospital has several levels but everywhere the same picture over and over again:
Long hallways and empty rooms.
But if you search carefully, you can find some real highlights in here.
After the hospital has been active for many decades, it was eventually turned into an old age home in the year 1995.
Elderly people got their medical treatment here but they were living independently at the same time.
Due to a decision of local authorities the whole site was shut down in 2013.
All the residents were rehoused to nearby facilities.
The problem was that there were simply too much resources needed in the past.
With a new concept a modern health center was supposed to reopen on this hill.
At least this was the plan.
Because nothing happened since then.
After closing down, the whole property was on sale for around eight million Euros.
But till today there's no potential buyer.
After administration and politics turned their backs to this facility flora and fauna are now coming back.
Take a look what I’ve just discovered.
These are the branches of a plum tree.
I think we’re in the fourth floor now. Or maybe it’s the third. I don’t know.
It’s growing from down there all the way up.
And this big limb is right on the balcony. And what’s hanging from it?
The most juicy, ripe plums you can imagine.
So, what can we learn from this? In abandoned places you can sleep and eat.
Easy. Really nice.
We started our exploration at the church and here we will end it. With a bang…
Come on… Come on…
Dude, we will go deaf!
I’m kinda scared when it hits.
Dude, we will go deaf for sure. And because of the vibration the tower will collapse.
That was close!
Cool…
Okay, I’d say: We’re done here because now the whole village knows that we’re up here.
So, let’s get out of here.
After a long day we now leave this sad place.
With its historical facade and the remarkable nave this church is one of the many Italian monuments.
But apparently the region is lacking a cultural memory.
Because instead of saving this place, it was left to rot.
Today this site is no-man's-land.
Since it's so remote, teenagers and thieves think they are free to do whatever they want up here.
And as it seems they're right.
Because by now everyone has lost their interest and there is no hope left for this historical site.
If you like our photos we have some good news for you:
We're planning to sell and raffle them as quality prints.
If you're interested in that stay tuned for updates.
Next time on Broken Window Theory:
After we showed you three abandoned churches in a row
it's time to focus on another kind of building in the next episode.
We're going to visit two derelict education institutes.
One of them is this ramshackle college perched up on a hill.
The other one is this small school in some Italian village with many relics from the past.
We're nearly done with the first half of our Italy series.
Only two more episodes until we take a break and continue with some other episodes.
But don't worry, the new videos will be at least equally entertaining!
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