Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

By Timmy Odejimi

 

HAUNTING images offer a glimpse into the desolate and forbidden churches across Europe left to crumble as Christianity declines on the continent.

 

Other eerie photographs from these secret and supposedly secured sites show cracked murals and ceilings, walls covered in cobwebs, caved-in roofs, caskets covered in debris and floors filled with rubble.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

 

Seventy-two percent of the EU population is currently Christian, however research from Pew Research centre show that Europe will see the number of Christians fall by almost fifty million in the coming years, leading more churches to become abandoned.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

 

Urban explorer, Romanelli Alessandro (45), captured the images on a tour of Italy, France, Germany, Poland and Czech Republic on a Nikon D750 with a F2.8 Nikkor 14/24 lens.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

 

“I faced many problems during my explorations. From falling to facing the police, security guards, and dogs,” Romanelli said.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

“These buildings are closed to the public for being unsafe and to prevent vandalism or other types of intrusion.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

“What you see in these pictures is the absence of man. The one who creates and then forgets.

 

“People always build new things forgetting to preserve the beautiful and forgotten architectural wonders like churches.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

“I like the excitement of discovering and entering places where it has been neglected for a long time.”

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

 

Despite the churches being deserted, urban explorer Romanelli faced the dangers from the police, dogs, and security guards as all the churches are closed to the public.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

 

The decaying church buildings show the lack of care and protection given to a place of religion.

Romanelli Alessandro / mediadrumworld.com

 

“Most times people appreciate these pictures and do not understand the actual abandonment of the churches,” Romanelli said.

 

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