Faded Paradise, Italy

Faded Paradise is an abandoned early 20th century social and entertainment venue it Italy. It has been derelict for around 5 years, and the first hints of decay are starting to set in.

I visited this location twice; during my 2021 and 2022 Italy road trips.

An Abandoned Art Nouveau Paradise

The building was commissioned by the mayor of the town as a social and entertainment venue. The architectural style is Stile Liberty; the Italy variation of Art Nouveau which was popular in the 1890s until around 1914. The building hosted conferences and exhibitions, as well as serving as a casino. The two circular casino halls have exquisitely frescoed domed ceilings with beautiful columns encircling the game floor. Dinner parties were held in the lower floor dining room which also doubled as a ballroom. There are also two large sun terraces, accessed from this room. The venue was very in vogue for the rich and important upper class of the town.

The opulent and fashionable building was also destined to be part of a bigger plan for the town. Widespread investment and development of the town was underway, with the goal of transforming the region into a profitable tourist destination. With numerous hotels and residential buildings planned, this venue would be the crowning jewel of the towns fledgling entertainment sector. Unfortunately, this plan was never fully realised. When the fascist regime rose to power in Italy, the re-development of the town ground to a halt.

The venue remained an important social hub well into the 1960s, when it was also used as a cinema and concert venue. It was also used as a school for around a decade, before dwindling student numbers forced closure.

Nowadays the beautiful building is starting to feel the ravages of neglect and disuse. The plaster is starting to crumble from the domed ceilings. On the whole the building is still in good condition, just waiting to be saved.