I really enjoyed this picture. If I had crossed it I would have taken the shot just as you had although maybe for different reasons. I find the shadowy alley at the end of the stone path very alluring and I would have wanted to follow it to see where it lead to.
Thanks, all. I think the sign is just rusty. The town was quite remote--I have to look up its name again--and was clearly losing population. It was so beautiful though that I thought someone should promote it for the kind of traveler that wants to get way off the beaten track. There wasn't even a placet to get a coffee or gelato there.