Revival of Southern Italy’s Ghost Town Through Street Art

A once-abandoned ghost town in southern Italy is experiencing a remarkable revival, thanks to the transformation of the area into a vibrant street art destination featuring over 140 colorful murals.

The town’s population had been dwindling, with many young locals moving away for better job opportunities and a decline in birth rates, according to reports. Artist Reno Lombardi, 57, was disheartened by the decay in his hometown. So, in 2017, he decided to take action and launched an annual street art festival called Stramurales.

“Initially, I thought I was nuts,” Lombardi remarked. “But I couldn’t just stand by and watch the town fade away. I started to see the walls as blank canvases that could evolve into something beautiful.”

The first Stramurales festival took place in 2018 and attracted artists from around the globe. Today, Strunara—located in the Puglia region—boasts more than 140 murals that reflect various annual themes, such as agriculture, migration within Italy, and community life. Local residents participate by voting on the themes for each year.

Since 2020, tourism has surged by 25%, leading to the opening of eight new businesses in the area, including restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts. Locals have observed that as young families return, the population has not only stopped declining but is actually starting to grow again.

Antonio Maglione, who owns a café, nearly closed his business before the arrival of mural tourism. Now, he’s even picked up phrases in five different languages to greet his customers. “The murals didn’t just save my business; they revitalized our community,” he stated.

Rita Jensano, who returned to Stornara after two decades, described her initial impressions of the town as a ghost town. “It felt like a sacrifice at first, but what has evolved is simply extraordinary,” she shared, now working as a tour guide and proudly calling Stornara “the coolest town in Italy.”

Salvatore Nappi, a retired olive farmer, mentioned that the murals helped the townsfolk regain their sense of pride. “We had lost our pride, but these artworks remind us that our town and our stories are worth celebrating,” he said.

Lombardi has also started a nonprofit organization dedicated to running art workshops aimed at keeping the creative spirit alive among high school students. “Art not only beautifies our environment, but it also inspires us to dream big in small places,” he added.

With the success of Stornara as inspiration, other struggling towns are now reaching out for help. “We never set out to be a case study, but if our success can aid other communities, then that truly adds to our purpose,” Lombardi noted.

The upcoming 2025 Stramurales Festival is set to be particularly special, as it will feature artists from all continents for the first time.