A Town Was Buried in Fog for 30 Years: The Story of Colobraro, Italy

Every region seems to have that town…the one locals won’t talk about, or only whisper about after dark. In Italy, that town is Colobraro.

Except here’s the twist: people won’t even say its name. They just call it “that town” because they’re afraid even saying “Colobraro” out loud will bring bad luck. And honestly? After learning about it, I can kinda see why.

This isn’t just a town with a spooky story or two. This is a town that’s been blamed for everything from broken bones to broken mirrors, haunted by witches, and (maybe wildest of all) buried in fog for thirty straight years.

Yup. Fog. Nonstop. For thirty years.

The curse begins: a lawyer, a chandelier, and bad luck that stuck

The legend of Colobraro’s curse goes back to the 1940s, when a lawyer in town was trying to prove a point in court. He boldly declared:
“If what I’m saying is false, may this chandelier fall right now.”

And like something out of a movie… it fell.

No one was hurt, but from that moment on? Colobraro was cursed. Or at least, that’s what everyone said.

Suddenly every bad thing in the region? Blamed on Colobraro. Failed crops? Colobraro. Car accident? Colobraro. Strange illness? Colobraro. It became the go-to scapegoat for anything unfortunate.

But while a curse is spooky enough, Colobraro didn’t stop there. That’s where the fog rolled in.

The fog that swallowed a town

Imagine waking up every day to thick, gray fog that won’t lift. For thirty years, Colobraro sat under a heavy blanket of mist so dense it looked like the town had been erased.

Locals said it wasn’t natural. They said the curse was hiding the town from the world, or worse, hiding something inside the town. Some believed the fog marked Colobraro as a gateway between worlds. Others thought it was nature’s way of warning outsiders: don’t come closer.

Visitors driving into the valley described the way sunlight would vanish, swallowed by the swirling white mist. The closer they got to Colobraro, the harder it became to see. The town felt like it was disappearing right in front of them.

Scientists, of course, had their own explanation. Something about the way the hills trap moisture and how air moves through the valley. Sure. But honestly? Even the science doesn’t take away how creepy it must’ve been to live inside a fog that refused to leave for three decades.

The witches of Colobraro

As if a curse and 30 years of fog weren’t enough, Colobraro’s spooky reputation is also tied to witches.

Stories spread about women called the “masciare”, folk healers or witches, depending on who you asked. They were believed to cast spells, curse enemies, or brew potions that could heal or harm.

People swore they saw these women gathering herbs at night or whispering strange words by candlelight. There were stories of babies cursed at birth, men struck with sudden illness after angering a masciara, and love spells gone wrong.

Even today, some locals claim the witches’ descendants still live in Colobraro, and that their power hasn’t faded.

(Want more weird science-meets-folklore stories? Check out my post on The Carrington Event, the solar storm so powerful it literally set telegraph wires on fire.)

Ghosts in the fog

Ghost stories are everywhere in Colobraro. People claimed to see figures moving through the fog, shadowy shapes that disappeared when approached.

Visitors spoke of hearing voices calling their names, only to find no one around. Some said their cars stalled mysteriously near the town. Others swore their electronics stopped working the minute they entered Colobraro’s borders.

Lights flickering in the woods. Cold spots in the middle of summer. Sudden gusts of wind when everything else was still.

And through it all? That heavy, endless fog, wrapping around the town like a shroud.

The fog lifts (but the legends stay)

Eventually, after thirty years, the fog lifted. Scientists say weather patterns shifted, letting sunlight reach Colobraro again. But the town’s reputation never cleared.

Even now, people avoid saying its name. If you ask for directions, you might get a nervous look, or a suggestion to skip that route altogether. And if you do visit? Don’t expect postcards or tourist brochures.

Visiting Colobraro: brave or reckless?

Despite its spooky reputation, Colobraro’s still there, perched quietly on its hill. These days, it leans into its legend with an annual summer festival: La Notte della Magia (the Night of Magic). During the festival, locals reenact the old stories with plays and lantern-lit tours.

Honestly? It sounds amazing.

If I ever make it there, you can bet I’m bringing a good camera, something like this mirrorless camera that’s super lightweight but takes killer low-light photos. Perfect for capturing foggy streets, dim lanterns, and anything mysterious lurking in the shadows.

And maybe I’ll pack a protective charm or two. You know. Just in case.

Because even though the fog’s gone, the stories haven’t faded. Colobraro’s still “that town.” And the curse? Well… maybe it’s still working, quietly, waiting for someone to say the name out loud.

And hey, if a chandelier falls down after you read this? Maybe don’t tell anyone where you heard the story.