By Siegfried Modola
Within the stone walls of the medieval village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, narrow lanes weave through stone arches, cobbled piazzas and overhanging buildings. The streets are mainly empty, except for tourists admiring the architecture and surrounding hills in Italy's southern L'Aquila province.
A village which over centuries lived off agriculture and wool, Santo Stefano di Sessanio has just 108 inhabitants, less than a tenth of its pre-World War One population according to its mayor. Like many surrounding villages, most residents left for work in cities or abroad, leaving it all but abandoned.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/
