The Plague Ghosts of Poveglia Island
Our story overviews are all written by AI. Which means sometimes they’re great, and sometimes they’re wrong. If you want to hear the unfiltered truth from our own mouths, check out the podcast episode instead!
Poveglia Island is a small island located in the Venetian Lagoon of northern Italy. The island has a dark and mysterious history that has led some to believe it is haunted by ghosts.
The history of Poveglia Island dates back to the Roman Empire when it was used as a quarantine station for ships arriving in Venice. In the 18th century, the island was turned into a hospital for the mentally ill, and in the 20th century, it was used as a quarantine station for those afflicted with diseases such as bubonic plague and cholera.
It is estimated that over 100,000 people died on the island during its time as a quarantine station. Many of these individuals were buried in mass graves on the island, and their spirits are said to haunt the island to this day.
The most infamous part of Poveglia Island’s history occurred during the 1920s when the island was used as an asylum for the mentally ill. The doctors who worked on the island were known to be cruel and used barbaric treatments such as lobotomies to try and cure their patients.
It is said that the screams of the patients could be heard from the island, and many of them were said to have been thrown into the island’s bell tower, which served as a crematorium, while they were still alive.
The island was eventually abandoned in the 1960s, and it has remained uninhabited ever since. Over the years, there have been reports of strange occurrences on the island, including sightings of ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises.
In recent years, the Italian government has opened up the island to the public for guided tours, and it has become a popular destination for those interested in the paranormal. Despite its dark history, the island continues to fascinate and intrigue visitors from around the world.
