[PHOTOS] The Most Haunted Place On Earth Is For Sale
A small deserted island that has been completely abandoned since 1968 is now up for auction.
By Melody Oei — 18 Apr 2014, 06:24 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
A Small Deserted Island Known As "The Most Haunted Place On Earth" Is Up For Auction
Poveglia, a small, uninhabited island in the Venice lagoon minutes from St Mark's Square.
Image via GettyIt's in one of the most popular tourism locations in the world, located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy. But Poveglia rarely sees any visitors.
The Island Was Sealed Off And Turned Into A Quarantine Zone For People With Infectious Diseases In 1793
Poveglia’s sordid history serves asa good explanation for why no one wants to go there. The 17-acre island became a dumping ground for Europeans dying of the plague.
time.com
No, but seriously, this place sounds scary. The trouble started back in the late 19th century when Poveglia served as a checkpoint for ships going to Venice. After a pair of ships carrying plague victims arrived in 1793, the island was sealed off and turned into a quarantine zone for people with infectious diseases, a role it served for over a century.
gizmodo.com
The Place Was Then Converted Into A Hospital For The Mentally Ill In 1922
It goes without saying that many of these people died on the island during this time, leading to the widespread belief that Poveglia is haunted. It didn't help when the place was converted into a hospital for the mentally ill in 1922.
gizmodo.com
According To Huffington Post, Local Legend Says A Mad Doctor Conducted Cruel Experiments On Patients And That Ghosts Drove Him To Throw Himself From The Top Of The Asylum's Bell Tower
The uninhabited 17-acre island, was once a dumping ground for dying plague victims. More recently it was home to a mental hospital run by a cruel doctor who performed lobotomies on patients with crude tools like hand drills, chisels, and hammers. It is said to be haunted by tens of thousands of tortured spirits.
One Local Saying Goes, "When An Evil Man Dies, He Wakes Up In Poveglia"
Venetians are deeply superstitious about the island and see it as purgatory for evil souls. One local saying goes: 'when an evil man dies, he wakes up in Poveglia.'
dailymail.co.ukThe Island Has Been Featured On The Paranormal Reality Shows "Ghost Adventures" And "Scariest Places On Earth"
It has become a draw for supernatural investigators searching for signs of the rumoured spirits, the most famous of which is a plague victim called Little Maria, who it is claimed stands crying looking out across the lagoon towards her home.
According To The Telegraph, The Plan For The Decrepit Building Is To Transform It Into A Luxury Hotel
The Italian state is now hoping that offers will arrive to transform the hospital into a luxury hotel under a deal giving the buyer a 99-year lease to redevelop the property, while the island remains the property of the state.
telegraph.co.ukA spokeswoman for Italy’s state sales agency declined to put a possible price on Poveglia but noted that barracks buildings had previously been sold for up to €3.8 (over RM17 million) million. Another 148 properties are due to be auctioned off this year, with the state hoping to raise €500 million.
telegraph.co.uk