The greenish ditches drain the water towards openings called ponors, which are part of the karstic underground drainage system.
If the karst drainage is blocked for any reason, water backs up and turns the plain into a temporary lake.
The village dates from the 13th century or slightly earlier, but the area had previously been settled by the Romans.
[2] In 2016 and 2017 Central Italy seismic events hit Castelluccio hard, destroying roughly 60% of the town, forcing the evacuation of all inhabitants and the total closure of all road and/or offroad access.
In springtime the nature of the fields is in lavish color, with red poppies and yellow rapeseed.