... Poveglia Island
A sunny little spot off the coast of Italy, just the perfect vacation destination for those interested in a cozy private island....that no one in their right mind should even think about visiting---
Poveglia Island has been billed the most haunted island in the world. Tucked away in Northern Italy, nestled in the Adriatic Sea, and sheltered from prying eyes by the distance afforded it from Italy proper, this island has played host to some extremely morbid and dark past-times over the years.
When the Black Plague swept through Europe, the 17-acre strip of land took on the role of quarantine location. Small ships would carry those infected by the disease onto the island to try and reduce the number of those getting infected.
Doctors during this time, would strap on their ominous-looking "bird masks," stuffing the beak with any assortment of herbs to filter, not only the worst of the disease particles from the air, but the putrid smell of dying/decaying flesh.
It wasn't a good thing when you saw a shrouded bird-like creature headed your way...especially when you
were too sick to fight the nightmarish creatures off.....
As the Black Plague continued its rampage, Poveglia became less and less a quarantine haven and more just a dumping ground for those contracting the disease. Thousands of people were shuttled across to the island and later burned, buried, or left to rot---there have been some legends floating around that a portion of the island itself is made up of the collected ash of burned plague victims....
And, if this doesn't seal the deal for your next luxury vacation---how about throwing in a mental asylum in the early 20th century, run by a crazed doctor who performed random lobotomies on his patients----
Still not enough?
How about adding the suicide of said "crazed doctor" some years later?
After claiming that the ghosts of the patients he experimented on were driving him mad, the aforementioned "crazed doctor" threw himself from the hospital roof.
Since the late 1960's, Poveglia Island has been uninhabited, visitation being tightly controlled by the Italian government---so, if you book your trip now, there won't be any pesky humans to get in your way or block your view across the Adriatic Sea....though, you might have to put up with a couple of non-human entities left over from a darker time. But, don't let that stop your sight-seeing!
Oh, and if you thoroughly enjoy your luxury stay on Poveglia Island, be sure to let the Italian government know, they might be able to put in a good word for you during the auction.
As of just a few days ago, Poveglia Island is now up for sale!
Forget Caveat Emptor.... anybody insane enough to actually buy this island deserves every bit of ghostly baggage that comes with it!
The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?
---Edgar Allan Poe
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| The Soldier |
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| Poveglia Asylum as it looks today |
Poveglia Island has been billed the most haunted island in the world. Tucked away in Northern Italy, nestled in the Adriatic Sea, and sheltered from prying eyes by the distance afforded it from Italy proper, this island has played host to some extremely morbid and dark past-times over the years.
When the Black Plague swept through Europe, the 17-acre strip of land took on the role of quarantine location. Small ships would carry those infected by the disease onto the island to try and reduce the number of those getting infected.
Doctors during this time, would strap on their ominous-looking "bird masks," stuffing the beak with any assortment of herbs to filter, not only the worst of the disease particles from the air, but the putrid smell of dying/decaying flesh.
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| Illustration of Plague Doctor with bird mask |
were too sick to fight the nightmarish creatures off.....
As the Black Plague continued its rampage, Poveglia became less and less a quarantine haven and more just a dumping ground for those contracting the disease. Thousands of people were shuttled across to the island and later burned, buried, or left to rot---there have been some legends floating around that a portion of the island itself is made up of the collected ash of burned plague victims....
And, if this doesn't seal the deal for your next luxury vacation---how about throwing in a mental asylum in the early 20th century, run by a crazed doctor who performed random lobotomies on his patients----
Still not enough?
How about adding the suicide of said "crazed doctor" some years later?
After claiming that the ghosts of the patients he experimented on were driving him mad, the aforementioned "crazed doctor" threw himself from the hospital roof.
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| Mass Grave of plague victims at Poveglia |
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| Abandoned ward at Poveglia Asylum |
As of just a few days ago, Poveglia Island is now up for sale!
Forget Caveat Emptor.... anybody insane enough to actually buy this island deserves every bit of ghostly baggage that comes with it!
creepy! Let's go!
ReplyDeleteI know, right?
DeleteI'd love to actually go there----but, I'd probably be too chicken to stay very long, lol....
I'll pass. But I'll be interested in finding out who buys it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd love to know who would be demented/money-hungry/crazy enough to buy the place.... if they turn it into a hotel/resort, I know quite a few people who would pay big money to spend a few days there----every amateur ghost-hunter in the world will be booking dates as soon as they go public.
DeleteAnd they now use the peste masks during carnivale. A very creepy tale of such a horrible disease.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think I knew that the masks were still around...just didn't know when/where they were used. Definitely a creepy tale----
Delete