The ruins of a medieval borgo, abandoned in the 19th century, occupy a naturally fortified plateau in the Crotone province. Known historically as Akerentia, the site is a landscape of crumbling stone walls and roofless buildings, the most prominent of which are the remains of the 11th-century church of San Teodoro di Amasea and a structure identified as the Bishopric. The settlement was constructed using a local, gypsum-based rock which has dissolved and degraded quickly over time, lending the ruins a soft, weathered appearance. Inhabited since pre-Roman times and once a significant Byzantine city, the town was gradually deserted due to earthquakes and disease, with the last residents leaving in 1844. The area is now the Akerentia Archaeological Park, where excavations by the Superintendence for Archaeological Heritage of Calabria continue to uncover the town's layout. The archaeological site is located in the municipality of Cerenzia. From Crotone, take the SS107 state road towards Cosenza for approximately 38km. Exit at the junction for San Giovanni in Fiore/Cerenzia and follow the SP54, then the SP5, following signs for modern Cerenzia. The old town, or 'Cerenzia Vecchia', is located just outside the new town and is accessible via a local road. Parking is available on the roadside near the entrance to the park. The ruins are reached on foot from there. Sources: Wikipedia; Calabria Region Official Tourism website; Mapcarta