Abandoned Poveglia: the dark history of the most haunted island in the world
Without stepping foot on the island of Poveglia, its haunting past is enough to incite unease even in the most dubious minds. Sitting off the coast of the romantic spectacle of Venice, Poveglia has been deemed the most haunted place on the planet. This tag likely raises questioning eyebrows, no matter which side of the afterlife topic you sit on, but once you know its harrowing history, it’s not that difficult to believe.
Like many other islands nearby, Poveglia was once home to local civilians and had a seemingly normal set-up despite its considerably low population. During the barbarian invasions, those from Padua and Este fled there for peace, and its population began to grow until the War of Chioggia caused them to relocate to Giudecca in 1379. The island remained mostly abandoned until the 1700s when it became a quarantine station during the second plague pandemic, where those sent there were left to endure a harrowing death.
After many more years of being uninhabited and nothing occupying the island except mounds of deceased plague victims, the buildings there were converted into a psychiatric institute, but from the many sources available that reveal the nature of the hospital, it wasn’t exactly supportive of its patients. For starters, the derelict surroundings meant that doctors were able to do whatever they wanted, resulting in a lot of unsolicited torture and even more insufferable deaths.
There are also reports of one doctor who believed that lobotomies were the best cure for mental illness, and he often performed the procedures on his patients against their will. According to other reports, the doctor reserved the hospital’s bell tower for the patients he especially liked, but it’s uncertain what sorts of things he forced them to endure there. One certainty is that he became plagued by his own mind, eventually dying by suicide after falling from the bell tower in the 1930s.
The asylum remained open until its closure in 1968 and has since been abandoned, with public visits being strictly prohibited. Of course, that doesn’t stop some travellers or thrill seekers from exploring it, especially after various paranormal investigative shows have made it a significant focal point over the years. According to reports, Poveglia’s storied history means that the island has hosted over 160,000 deaths, with half of the soil being made up of human remains.
There’s no doubt that the island holds onto its dark and eery atmosphere, but what about those who were left behind? Could the spirits of those who suffered from the plague still pervade the island? Obviously, the answer to that question depends on what you believe, but many visitors have reported various paranormal experiences, including hearing the screams of those who were patients at the mental institute. Some also claim they can still hear the bell despite the fact that it is no longer there.
Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of the island is its emptiness, a quiet entity occupied by nothing other than a once-filled location. The suffering sounds of those close to death are heard in the soft whispers of the wind, and the hushed tones of horrifying histories appear loud and clear only by virtue of once being true. In recent years, Poveglia has endured two instances of failed leasing but still remains abandoned. Perhaps its aura is too spine-tingling even for business owners with dollar signs in their eyes.
Or, maybe it’s the fact that it neighbours the so-called most romantic place in the world. The view of the desolate Poveglia may be better from Lido, but its proximity to Venice depicts a stark contrast. How can we celebrate love and romance in the heart of Italian heritage in one city while sitting on the cusp of such a dark neighbour? For this reason, perhaps Poveglia is destined to remain uninhabited for the greater good, left alone if nothing other than to let the souls of the suffering rest.
