Plymouth

Plymouth was the capital of Montserrat until pyroclastic flows and mudflows from the Soufrière Hills volcano buried it in 1997, and it remains the official capital, the only ghost town in the world to hold that role. Ash and rock have filled the streets to the upper floors, and rooftops, a church tower and the clock of the war memorial rise from the grey. The town lies inside the exclusion zone, so visits are made only by day with an authorised guide, and access closes whenever volcanic activity rises. The best overview is from Garibaldi Hill across the valley, and the guided tour walks among the buried buildings.