Exploring Earth's Priciest Abandoned Structures

1. Italy's Lake Reschen Bell Tower

Where: Italy's Lake Reschen The reservoir was formed in 1950. Building costs: $150–300 million* These images of the remains of an Italian village will be recognizable to viewers of the Italian-language mystery series Curon, as the location was used for filming. An ancient Italian village called Reschen was submerged under water in 1950 to build a dam for a hydroelectric power project. The 160 destroyed houses were flooded and the inhabitants that were left had to relocate.

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Bell Tower at Lake Rechen, Italy, @ecobnb/Pinterest The St. Catherine Bell Tower was among the first remnants to show up in reasonable form after Lake Reschen was drained in 2021. Locals have come outside to take pictures of the Bell Tower and the ghostly remnants of the small Italian village that once stood as more and more of Lake Reschen has drained away.

2. Cyprus's Nicosia International Airport

Location: in Cyprus, west of Nicosia The 1930s The estimated cost of reconstruction is $37 million. A proposal to rehabilitate Nicosia International Airport has been made by the government of Cyprus. Although the cost of $37 million is high, it is clear that Nicosia Airport may be brought back to its previous level of excellence. Nicosia was the island's primary airport, constructed in the 1930s. Nicosia was unexpectedly closed in 1974 following the invasion of Cyprus by the Turks.

Cyprus's Nicosia International Airport, ©Shutterstock/Sahan Nuhoglu In addition to being a well-liked commercial airport, Nicosia houses United Nations and Royal Air Force camps. As the United Nations has designated the area as a "Protected Area," prohibiting public access to the former airport and associated camps, you are not permitted to visit the abandoned airport as of right now.