I have read about towns that were abandoned several centuries ago and are now overgrown with vegetation that are around Rome...one that stood out was a place called Montereno (I think). I have had a hard time getting info on these as to what they're like and how to get there.

Has anyone here ever been to one?

I've been to Umbriano which is near Ferentillo in Umbria. Interesting place. It's a small, fortified town perched on a hillside overlooking the River Nera. It has been abandoned for many years, but not centuries. Most "ghost towns" simply lost their populations due to emmigration and lack of modern infrastructure in the towns.

Canale Monterano (the new town) is about 25 miles north of Rome just west of Lago di Bracciano. The old town is called Monterano, and is about 3 miles west of the new town.

Here is short video of Umbriano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVrVT3_Bg38

Mario, thanks for posting the link to the Umbriano video. It was lovely. We stayed just across the valley from Umbriano at the Abbazia San Pietro. The owners told us someone had bought the entire town of Umbriano and was planning to rehab it and sell the houses. That would be a monumental task but the location is breathtaking.

Ostia Antica - the old port of ancient Rome, was abandoned several centuries ago when the sea receded rendering it unusable as a port. It is somewhat reminiscent of Pompeii:

http://www.ostia-antica.org/

Hi Grinisa,
You are welcome. Umbriano was abandoned from 1950.
Yes, and price was "only" 1,200,000 EURO

Mario, did YOU buy Umbriano? Is that for the whole town or the price for one of the refurbished houses?

Finca, south of Rome, fits your description. Unfortunately, it was gated and closed up the day we discovered it.

Lol Grinisa, I wish; I saw the price from real estate website, price was for the whole town, but there is need for lot of more to rebuild.