The village of Curon was lost to the waters in 1950 when authorities decided to build a dam and merge two nearby lakes - despite the objections of its residents. More than 160 homes were submerged, and Curon's population displaced - although some decided to remain in the new village created nearby.

The most famous "lost" or "dying" village in Italy is Civita di Bagnoregio, located in the Lazio region about two hours from Rome. Often called "La città che muore" (the dying city), it is perched atop a precarious plateau of volcanic tuff that is slowly eroding due to wind and rain. The village is only accessible via a 300-meter pedestrian footbridge that suspends visitors over a vast canyon. Founded by the Etruscans over 2,500 years ago, most of its population fled after a massive earthquake in 1695. Today, it has only a few dozen permanent residents but welcomes nearly a million tourists annually. Another notable "lost" site is Curon, famous for the 14th-century church steeple rising out of Lake Resia after the village was submerged for a dam in 1950. Civita remains the primary "ghost town" attraction, offering a hauntingly beautiful medieval time capsule.