12 Truly Stunning Abandoned Hotels Around the World

Old Gagra Resort Community

WHERE: Gagra, Georgia

Once a thriving resort community on the Black Sea with opulent hotels, shopping centers, and grand theaters, the town of Old Gagra is a casualty of the Soviet-era conflicts that decimated much of the region. The territory of Abkhazia, where Gagra is located, is still claimed by both the native Abkhazians and the Republic of Georgia. After the fall of communism, Abkhazia rebelled against Georgian rule; in 1992, the largest battle of the war was fought in Old Gagra, destroying the many resorts and spas in the area. Though attempts are being made to restore the area to its former glory, many of the buildings remain in disrepair.

Kupari Tourist Complex

WHERE: Kupari, Croatia

The seaside city of Dubrovnik bears few scars from the Homeland War that ravaged Croatia in the early 1990s, but just half an hour outside of the city, the Kupari Resort Complex tells a different story. The complex, with multiple hotels, campsites, and villas, was developed in the mid-20th century as a vacation spot for Yugoslav army officers and their families. When the war broke out several decades later, the army razed their own resort, leaving behind burned out buildings that still contain broken-down beds, faded wallpaper, and bullet fragments.

Sammezzano Palace

WHERE: Leccio, Italy

You'd be forgiven for never having heard of this Orientalism-inspired castle, as only a handful of people have been allowed in over the last 20 years. Built in the 1800s by Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d'Aragona, the palace is a wonder of detail, with intricate tile work, carvings, and vivid stained glass covering every surface. After d'Aragona died, the palace was converted into a hotel that was shuttered in 1990, and subsequent owners have failed to keep up with the repairs that the magnificent estate requires; as such, the hotel has never re-opened.