
San Pellegrino sparkling water has an air of Italian opulence, with its emerald bottle and bright blue label boasting a distinctive flair.

But the drink's birthplace appears to have lost its fizz.

Once a playground for the rich and famous, San Pellegrino Terme in the mountainous province of Bergamo now resembles a ghost town in places, with its cluster of art nouveau buildings slowly decaying.

Photos shared to Flickr show how the town has suffered a gradual decline after a period of great wealth triggered by the formation of the San Pellegrino company in 1899. World War One is said to have caused a decline in tourism, which remains to this day.

An old funicular railway running from the town centre up the mountainside lays dormant. Meanwhile, leaves litter the doorways of the once-glitzy 250-room Grand Hotel and casino, with birds the only guests.

While the town is not entirely abandoned, its cracking concrete streets certainly aren't a refreshing welcome. Scroll down to see yet more images of San Pellegrino, yearning for a developer's touch to give it back its sparkle...

Lost its fizz: Once a playground for the rich and famous, San Pellegrino Terme in the mountainous province of Bergamo now features a cluster of art nouveau buildings in slow decay

Who will buy? Photos shared to Flickr show how the town has suffered a gradual decline after a period of great wealth triggered by the formation of the San Pellegrino company in 1899. The First World War is said to have caused a decline in tourism, which remains to this day

An old kiosk stands dormant with the windows and doors closed (left) while the old funicular sits unused on the tracks, with the concrete steps gradually cracking (right)

State of decay: The San Pellegrino sparkling water company commissioned an architect to build the Grand Hotel and casino. Today, the sprawling complex sits empty, with paint peeling from the walls and birds nesting in the rafters

San Pellegrino is located in the north of Italy in the mountains

Picturesque setting: The Grand Hotel, which opened in 1904, is situated on the left bank of the river Brembo

On the way up: In 1909 a funicular was built in San Pellegrino, in order to overcome the 984 feet of altitude difference separating it from the hamlet of Vetta

Retracing the steps: The Thermal Baths were built in 1840 and turned a small village of the valley into an outstanding holiday resort for the wealthy international middle class

A sense of history: A black-and-white engraving showing the San Pellegrino mineral water station in 1870

Railing renegade: An old postcard shows how the funicular used to function (left) but today there isn't anybody queuing for tickets (right)