This photography project, dating from the summer of 2026, aims to document the passage of time at a military base that has been abandoned for about 30 years.
Having served the U.S. military to intercept radio communications from the Eastern Bloc, the base—located in southern Italy (in the province of Brindisi)—remained fully operational until 1994.
The images are accompanied by testimonies from people who stayed there with their families during their military service. They show that this small, closed-off village was once full of life and that many people who lived there—and who have since returned to the other side of the world—still hold very vivid memories of it.
To emphasize the sense of the passing of time, I chose to capture these images using entirely analog equipment.
I used 35mm Ilford FP4 film—ASA 125.
All the images were taken with a Cosina CT1 Super camera and a Pentax 28mm lens (PK Mount).
The image above shows what remains of the main sign at the base’s entrance. It is visible from the road.
The image below shows the ruins of the security checkpoint at the entrance to the base
From this point on, we’re really getting into the subject, because starting with the next pictures, we’ll be entering the base area itself
Like an American enclave on Italian ground, even the roads and trails in the area had English names
On the left is the entrance to the cafeteria or dining building
On the right is a view of the inside of this building
I do not wish to open a debate here about who is responsible for the abandonment of this site.
It is clear that political and military agreements led to the exploitation of this site and its return to Italian control after it was no longer in use.
It is, however, worth considering its future. Will this area remain contaminated forever ? Will anyone ever take on the responsibility and the cost of remediating all the hazardous substances it contains ?
When you leave the school building, right behind it is the entertainment area, which includes a theater where shows and movies were also presented
Some of the utility rooms used for electrical distribution, as well as an electrical panel in a home, were likely ripped out by vandals who were trying to steal the copper
The road leading to the residential area where active-duty military personnel and their families lived, along with a few pictures of the homes themselves
( Softair fake gun )
What remains of the swimming pool, an iconic spot that many remember
Various images of these places and the memories of those who spent a part of their lives there
Another key place in the community was the supermarket « commissary ». There, people could find products they were familiar with because they were imported from their homeland.
The exterior was photographed from the parking lot.
It is interesting to note that there are no objects left on site that date back to the period when this base was in operation.
It is likely that the last soldiers dismantled everything before leaving for security reasons. And as for what they missed, thieves took care of the rest.
The only item I found – which I left right where I found it, of course – is a copy of the famous “Stars and Stripes” newspaper from 1982, shown in the photo below.
As for the ruins of this place, they will likely be swept away by the wind for many years to come, carrying with them the asbestos particles scattered across the site, all without regard for the health of the people who still live in the surrounding area.
Human beings, whether from the West or the East, whether Russian, Italian, or American, have once again done everything in their power to make life miserable on this planet and leave their heritage to future generations.
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Thank you
Photographically,
Fabrizio