The Haunting of Poveglia Island

Poveglia Island in the Venetian Lagoon may be the most haunted location in Italy. An estimated 100,000 plague victims were burned here during the Black Death. Later, a mental hospital added more tragedy to its history.

The Plague

During plague outbreaks from 1348 onward, the sick and dying were transported to Poveglia to die. Bodies were burned in massive pyres. The soil is said to contain more human ash than earth. The suffering was unimaginable.

The Mental Hospital

In 1922, a mental hospital was built on the island. According to legend, a doctor performed horrific experiments on patients before throwing himself from the bell tower. He survived the fall but claimed to have been strangled by a ghostly mist.

The Phenomena

Those who have visited report screaming voices, shadowy figures, and an overwhelming sense of dread. Equipment malfunctions constantly. Visitors report being pushed, touched, and attacked. The sound of moaning comes from nowhere.

The Restriction

Italian authorities have restricted access to the island. Some attribute this to safety concerns; others believe the government knows what evil resides there and wants to contain it.

Assessment

Poveglia combines unimaginable mass death with later institutional horror. The concentration of suffering may explain why the island is so intensely haunted. It remains a place few dare to visit.