There is a small town in Italy called Curon that you can’t visit anymore—or at least, not in the usual way. In 1950, the town was intentionally flooded to build a hydroelectric dam. More than 160 houses were destroyed, and the residents had to move to new homes on higher ground. Today, only one part of the old village is still visible: the tall church tower that rises straight out of the blue water.
People come from all over the world to see this strange sight. In winter, the lake freezes, and visitors can walk across the ice to touch the tower. Many tourists take photos and imagine what life was like when the town was full of shops, schools, and children playing in the streets. Local stories say that on quiet nights you can still hear the old church bell ring from under the water, although that is probably just a legend.
The new Curon, built nearby, is peaceful and friendly. Some older residents still remember the day their families had to leave everything behind. They say it was painful, but they are also proud that the memory of their town is preserved in such an unusual way. The lake now produces clean energy for thousands of homes, turning a sad story into something positive for the future.
Curon reminds us that progress often has a price, but history and human spirit can survive even when a town disappears beneath the surface.
Comprehension
1) Why was the town of Curon flooded in 1950?
2) What is the only part of the old village that can still be seen today?
3) What do visitors often do when they come to the lake in winter?
4) How do some older residents feel about what happened to their town?
5) What positive result came from the creation of the lake?
Vocabulary
Match the words to the definition:
1) Intentionally
2) Hydroelectric
3) Legend
4) Preserved
5) Progress
a) kept in good condition or protected from being lost or destroyed
b) done on purpose; not by accident
c) improvement or development toward a better or more advanced state
d) an old story that many people know, but that may not be completely true
e) using moving water to produce electricity
Grammar Highlights
1. Passive Voice (focus on the action or result, not who performed it)
Examples:
- “The town was intentionally flooded to build a hydroelectric dam.”
- “More than 160 houses were destroyed.”
2. Relative Clauses (to add extra information)
Examples: “People come from all over the world to see this strange sight, which rises straight out of the blue water.