Ahhh, Venice—by day, it’s the city of romance, where tourists clamor from every corner of the globe, snapping Instagram-worthy pics and forking out cash for a gondola ride. But by night? Venice sheds its dreamy façade and transforms into a gothic playground, perfect for those of us who crave a little darkness with our travels.
Beneath the charm of canals and picturesque bridges lies a world packed with enough haunted legends and shadowy alleyways to make even the bravest feel a little… uneasy. Trust me, Venice’s spooky side is not for the faint of heart, so if you’ve got a penchant for the macabre, this floating city belongs on your must-visit list. Let’s get into it, shall we?
First stop? Poveglia, a small, uninhabited island just off the coast of Venice, and trust me, it’s not your average island retreat. This place has a history so dark it’s literally earned the nickname “The Island of Ghosts.” From the 18th century onward, Poveglia was used as a quarantine site during the plague, and later—because the vibes weren’t grim enough—it became a psychiatric hospital. The combo of plague victims and psychiatric patients has turned Poveglia into an infamous hotspot for ghostly sightings. It’s like the Venice version of American Horror Story, but without the TV credits.
According to Ancient Origins, “many believe the spirits of the plague victims and psychiatric patients still linger on the island,” with plenty of reports of eerie sights and inexplicable noises from those brave enough to get close. […]
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