- Poveglia
Poveglia is a small island located between
Venice andLido in theVenetian Lagoon ,Italy .It has an unfortunate history and is considered by some to be a
hot spot forghosts . During Roman times it was used to isolate thousands ofplague victims, and during the three occasions when theblack death spread throughEurope , the island was effectively used as aplague pit — it was considered an efficient way of keeping the infected people separated from the healthy. It is believed that over 160,000 people died on the island throughout its history.The island was home to a small community until it was abandoned around 1380, during the
War of Chioggia betweenVenice andGenoa .In 1922, a
psychiatric hospital was built on the island. It is rumoured that many of the patients claimed to see the tormented spirits of the plague victims soon after their arrival. The doctor there investigated this phenomenon by conducting crude lobotomies and medical experiments. He supposedly began seeing the ghosts himself and had gone crazy, after his death the remaining patients put his body in the belltower and sealed the exits. After this, the hospital was abandoned and remains so to this day. It is rumored that that if you pass the island at twilight you can hear the screams of agony from the plague victims.External links
* [http://www.turismovenezia.it/leo/articolo.asp?lingua=eng&art=116 Article on Early Poveglia from "Leo"] (Venice Magazine)
* [http://www.forbes.com/2004/10/28/cx_cv_1028feat.html Article on World's Spookiest Places from Forbes.com]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=venice,+italy&ll=45.380419,12.332153&spn=0.004657,0.011051&t=k Satellite image from Google Maps]
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