Nestled along the coast near Sitia in Crete, the abandoned Dionysos village stands as a haunting reminder of a once-thriving holiday destination. This eerie, crumbling settlement now attracts only a handful of remaining residents, leaving the majority of its buildings empty and desolate.
Until the mid-2010s, Dionysos was a popular resort town, boasting a prime location on the sun-drenched coastline. The cluster of holiday homes and hotels, perched on the parched, dusty hillside, initially appeared to be a perfect tourist spot. However, something gradually went wrong, and over the past decade, the village has seen a steady decline in visitors.
Some locals speculate that the resort’s location was ill-chosen. Situated away from nightlife and too far from the airport, it failed to attract the crowds it needed to thrive. Additionally, certain sea currents would wash rubbish onto the beach, making it an unappealing destination for sunseekers. “It was and remains the worst beach in the Mediterranean,” a local source told Greek outlet B2 Green. Financial instability among the owners further contributed to the village’s downfall, with only three-quarters of the 470 properties ever sold.
During its peak, Dionysos was home to around 200 families who turned it into a bustling resort town, welcoming guests during the summer months. However, as the developer handed over management responsibilities to the villagers, communal areas began to deteriorate. With fewer people around to maintain them, the village became increasingly unkempt. Today, plants grow through cracks in the rocks, streets are littered, and the once-grand central swimming pool lies empty and filled with dust. Now, only 10 families remain as full-time residents.
Photographer Marco Petrini recently visited the nearly deserted village, where a few apparent squatters have taken up residence in some of the buildings. “Upon my arrival, I began to wander around, and the sound of distant voices and some old, rusty cars parked here and there indicated the presence of people,” Petrini explained. “However, I wasn’t sure about my safety, as I was alone with my gear (camera, lenses, drone, etc.).”
Petrini opted for handheld photography to avoid intruding too heavily on the few remaining inhabitants. “At one point, I noticed someone approaching me, but I couldn’t decipher her intentions,” he said. “She began to talk to me in Greek, and while I couldn’t understand what she was saying, the tone of her voice made it clear that I was not welcome there, prompting my decision to leave.”
Journalist Lexi Taciak described the village as having an “uncanny valley” feel. “From far away, the village looks pretty normal, but the closer you look, the more clues you see that it is deserted and that something is not quite right,” she said. “The juxtaposition between the cheerful colors, playful lines, dynamic light, and the conditions of the village is really interesting to see.”
Dionysos village now stands as a poignant symbol of a once-prosperous resort that has succumbed to neglect and abandonment, leaving behind only a handful of residents and a sense of eerie desolation.
