Calcata is an ancient hilltop village that is about 45 minutes from Soriano, near Rome. What makes this village so special is that in the 1930′s, it was condemned, and became a ghost town. However, in the 60′s hippies and artists began to squat here, and over time it developed into a thriving artist colony of sorts. There are currently about 60 local residents of the village, who have restored it over the years and opened restaurants, cafes, and art galleries.

The town swtill carries with it the vibe that set it on its current path. The art galleries are very non-traditional, the cafes serve mostly vegetarian fare, and the people are without question the modern version of the hippies of the 60′s. In fact, the vive is very similar to that of Sedona, Arizona, except that it has an Italian flavor to it.

As though all of this were not strange enough, Calcata has one more odd claim to fame: The Holy Prepuce of Calcata. That’s right, this is where what the Catholic church believes to have been Jesus’ foreskin reseided for hundreds of years until it was mysteriously stolen in 1983.

Related Links:
New York Times article about Calcata
Slate Magazine Artile “Fore Shame”
Link to the book: An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church’s Strangest Relic in Italy’s Oddest Town