The Hand of the Greeks – A look at Pentedattilo

The name Pentedattilo relates to the shape of the rocky backdrop which frames this small community on the coast of Calabria, in the south of Italy.

Badly damaged due to past earthquakes, and long since abandoned, it retains its evocative Greek atmosphere that brings the curious to look at the empty streets filled with crumbling houses that overlook the sea. The residents of these homes have long since flown, having given up fighting the tremors and quakes that continually rock the foundations. Finally in the 1980s, Pentedattilo became a ghost town.

Edward Lear described Pentedattilo during his travels around Calabria in 1847:“The vision is something magical, that rewards all the efforts to reach it; wild and arid, craggy stone leaves a clear shape of a hand in the sky, whilst darkness and terror fill the surrounding abyss”.

The description still holds true today, as the town seems almost suspended between the sky and the sea, set into one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Mediterranean. Broom, citrus trees and Indian figs grow undisturbed amongst the abandoned houses and in the deserted streets, reclaiming their space and creating an unforgettable image in the minds of visitors.

More than an empty shell, destined for oblivion, this small town founded in 640 BC is now a tourist attraction and destination for film lovers who come every summer to celebrate the Pentedattilo Film Festival, offering a glimpse into the future for this derelict yet atmospheric town.