The age-old ghost town of Balestrino was captured in all its spooky wonder by a drone . Circling the picturesque landscape , the camera picked out the castle on the hill and surrounding depreciated buildings . The ancient Tuscan settlement , based 40 miles south east of Genoa , is shrouded in mystery with its origin and much of its history remaining unknown . Scroll down for video . Little is known about the origin or history of the ancient Tuscan town that dates back to the 11th century A.D . Residents were forced to flee their homes in the town more than 60 years ago , with seismic instability noted as a main reason for the mass abandonment . A number of historical earthquakes , including one in 1887 that measured 6.7 on the Richter scale , caused severe damage to the settlement ’ s infrastructure . Dating back to the 11th century A.D. , the town was formerly owned by the Benedictine abbey of San Pietro dei Monti in the 1100s . Seismic instability caused by earthquakes forced residents to flee their homes more than 60 years ago . An earthquake in 1887 measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and caused severe damage to the town ’ s infrastructure . A total of 800 inhabitants occupied the settlement , but by the 19th century most of the population had migrated from the area . A new town with the same name was built around a mile from its location and it 1953 the remaining population moved away from the settlement . Today the town is considered to be the most famous abandoned location in Italy and folklore suggests that the area is haunted . Captured in the short drone footage is the picturesque castle that looks down on the hill-side buildings below . 800 inhabitants used to occupy the area but by the 19th century most of the population had migrated . The town is considered to be the most famous abandoned location in Italy and folklore suggests that the area is haunted . Some of the structures remain intact while others have walls crumbling as foliage grows on the roofs and from the many exposed crevices . The silence adds a further frightening dimension , with the only audible sounds coming from the drone ’ s propellers . The video concludes with a shot of the town from a distance , which perfectly captures the dark and empty windows as well as the grandeur of the castle in comparison to the other buildings . The drone captures the building 's dark and empty windows as well as the grandeur of the castle on the hill .
The ancient Tuscan town is based 40 miles south east of Genoa . It was founded in the 5th century BC by Etruscans and Romans who settled here after fleeing from their homeland to escape persecution at home or war with neighbouring tribes.