Borgo Ciacca: How one man transformed his ancestral Italian village (photos)
Borgo Ciacca: This rural hamlet in Italy lay empty for decades after its last resident died.
Cesidio di Ciacca
Pictures of the past: Scottish businessman Cesidio Di Ciacca is a descendant of two of the village's former inhabitants, Cesidio and Marietta, who left the village at the turn of the century.
Cesidio di Ciacca
Rural ruin: Going back to his ancestral hometown, Di Ciacca found it crumbling and covered in untamed vegetation.
Silvia Marchetti
Scattered legacy: "The village was fragmented and split up between so many heirs who often just possessed a corner of one house, a bit of the pasture, woodland or farmland, or just an olive tree," Di Ciacca says.
Silvia Marchetti
Property hunt: Di Ciacca had to track down 140 descendants of the village's last inhabitants to acquire all the deeds to the dilapidated properties.
Silvia Marchetti
Labor of love: Di Ciacca says tracking down all the owners was a labor of love, but nothing compared to the task of rebuilding the village.
Cesidio di Ciacca
New luxury: The houses have now been restored. Borgo Ciacca is now home to vineyards, conference rooms and guest suites.
Cesidio di Ciacca
Family photo: Di Ciacca, pictured right, now spends most of the year in his ancestral home, together with his wife, son, daughter and grandchildren.
Cesidio di Ciacca
Eco activities: SaysDi Ciacca, "When my daughter Sofia decided to leave her corporate job and take care of the vineyards, I turned the borgo into a rural farm producing honey, jams, wine and extra virgin olive oil, and launching eco-conscious activities."
Cesidio di Ciacca
Origin stories: "I want this village to be a pivotal center for all Italian-Scottish people abroad who want to return and re-connect with their origins, and maybe even help their native territory by launching activities and opportunities for growth," Di Ciacca says.