JUST OFF THE COAST NEAR Praia a Mare, in the Southern Italian region of Calabria, lies the small Dino Island, which was once connected to the mainland until erosion ate away the land bridge. A sparse collection of buildings stands among the verdant foliage, hinting at one chapter of the island’s long human history.

In the 1950s, Dino Island was sold to a private group that wanted to turn the island into a tourist attraction. Plans were made to construct a luxury resort on the little island, but this plan failed and the island was abandoned. All that remains of this once-great endeavor are some Trulli-like structures and a now-abandoned restaurant.