As far as days go, last Tuesday was a good one, if not for the castle of the ghost town Celleno, then for us.
You saw it, or better its doors, on Thursday already: Celleno, il borgo fantasma, the ghost town in Lazio between Orvieto and Viterbo. Today we look beyond the doors to see what is in there.
It is a bit ghostly and empty but there is Gina, the donkey, it is surrounded by the greens which we in lower Tuscany can only dream of right now (but the rains are coming), its rooms are full of objects that look like its inhabitants have only stepped out for a moment and not moved permanently to a new town 1.5 km away, and there is freshly baked bread awaiting in welcome. Bestia couldn’t believe his nose.
Well, it may be that the bread has seen better days, we didn’t taste it. As has Celleno. It was abandoned in 1951 when deemed unsafe due to earthquakes, landslides, epidemics, but unlike many such towns didn’t give up. It is still alive in its emptiness which is filled not only with objects but often also with various events, exhibitions, concerts.
Therefore no black and white for this ghost. Italy is alive even in decay and goes on in full colours.
The first room. Is it real? 
The courtyard held an exhibition for Afghanistan. 
The Celleno castle. Seen better days but there is nothing wrong with this day either. 
Every room is a showcase. 
I had a similar sowing machine but didn’t know how to use it. 
Signora Giuliana gifted this one. 
The shirt looks ready. 
Bathroom items. 
The walls are made of tufa. 
You can feel the love that went into presentation. 
Bicycles are left here and there too. 
The nature is taking over. 
The post office is a bit airy. 
You can tell that it was not safe anymore to live here. 
Ah, look, a baby! Or an angel? 
A short path leads in a circle back to the castle. 
The marvellous view and the tools. 
Everything is left just so. 
This must be the bread oven. 
Back where we started. Bestia’s nose tells him the bread is legit. We leave before he jumps.
For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, hosted by Tina at Travels and Trifles: Seen Better Days
This day in my blogging history
2015: Boundaries, limits, borders. Let’s see. 1. I have never felt to have sufficient boundaries. And look at me now. Who said that if a frog had wings, where the end of it would be? I’ve always felt that nobody has gotten to my wings yet. And still I refuse to fly. (Read on)
An Embarrassment of Riches (Closed) 
I love the items in these photos, Manja, I’m sharing this with my wife.
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This is really good to hear, Dan. Enjoy it, both of you! And thanks!
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The open air museum is very well laid out. They say that rats are getting bigger and bolder; let’s hope they don’t get that big!
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Right you are on both counts, TAB. Thanks.
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Lovely photographs. My parents had sewing machines like those. Foot pedaled. They were SINGERS brand. Lovely ones.
Everything on this page is lovely. Thanks for sharing.
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Oh yes, the Singers were classic! Thank you, Selma, I’m glad you found lovely. Always welcome back.
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No one lives here and no one to protect the property?
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Probably they lock it up for the night. There is Gina living here, did you see the last Thursday Doors post?
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Beautiful ruins. So many stories within those walls.
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Thank you, Julie! And the stories are still being told.
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Could there be a better subject for seen better days, Manja? I doubt it!
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Thank you, Jo. I was extremely lucky with this challenge, agreed. 🙂 Just in time!
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🤣💕
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Every time I see a sewing machine like this, I think of my late granny. They don’t make them like that any more.
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Right, Bojana. A Singer, no doubt. 🙂 My granny was good with it too. Thank you!
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Of course.
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What an interesting place Manja, thanks so much for sharing it with us. I love that the rooms remain filled with contents despite no one living there. Great post!
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Thank you, Tina. Your challenge came exactly on time. 🙂 I’m so glad that I could show this town.
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It looks like it still contains many spirits,. (K)
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Right, K. But they are orderly. And they bake. Thank you!
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The best kind.
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Wow, Manja! This is fantastic. I’d love to go there. It is–as you say–a living ghost town. Fascinating. Thanks so much for posting.
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You’re most welcome, Patti! 🙂 I hope you do it one day.
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Interesting place
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Thank you, Sue, very much so!
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😊😊😊
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How interesting that the houses in this ghost town are themselves filled with displays of ‘ghost’ items – items that are no longer used but deserve to be seen 🙂 My mother had (and used) a treadle sewing machine like that one – all my childhood dresses were made on it 🙂
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Thank you, Sarah. Who knows, it might be in the future as well, such a machine.
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This is absolutely fascinating, Manja! Fits every frame for this challenge – amazing place! I’d love to walk there myself – so glad bestia could nose there…and even the shirt was real!
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Thank you, Leya. It really felt this way, that this challenge was made for me and this place. We were almost alone and it was so calm that you could hear the old voices welcome us.
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♥
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I have an old Singer Sewing machine but not as old as that. I would love visit there someday .Beautiful images.
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Thank you, Anita. I hope you do come over one day.
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This is such a wonderful place. I love this post. Especially your main photo of all the things hanging on walls, as that’s what my mom did in her little cabin. Do visitors leave things there? I used a treadle sewing machine to sew my first dress! And is that big rolling machine for pressing shirts? I’ve never seen anything like that. The items in the bathroom seemed curious. I couldn’t guess them all. You are right that love and care went into the presentation. What an excellent place to discover.
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Thank you, Crystal! Good to see you in your new profile photo. Now I’ll always remember that day when I see it. I’m not sure if visitors leave things there but probably they would take it if you brought something. 🙂 Great that you know how to use the sewing machine. I never learned even though my grandmas had them.
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Cool! ‘Old stuff!’ Nothing lasts better than stone, however.
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Quite right, John. 🙂 Thank you!
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I was reminding myself earlier this week…3 years…already, My how time flies.
So grateful for all the amazing memories though 😀
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Thank you, Norm! I was thinking of alerting you to these posts where you appear in the history and I’m glad you found them. Time is so strange. Three years sounds a lot and yet when you were here, times were completely different than they are now. The whole world has changed. I’m really glad that you made it.
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This is an interesting exhibition of “whatever “ stuff 👍🏼
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Thank you, Teresa. I thought so too.
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