Poveglia Poveglia is a small island located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy. At times, barges were necessary to ship the bodies. Source: Venezia.net. The city came with the concept of lazaretto in the early 1400s. As time went on stories about treatment and experimentation on the patients started coming to the outside world. Photo credit: True British Metal. When she returned from the trip, she told me that she really didn’t see or feel anything remarkable when on the island and was a little dissapointed. The island has its first mention in … More than 50 percent of the island’s soil is composed of human ash. The island of Poveglia is now famous for ghost stories made up by American television. So let’s get a deeper look now beyond the secrets within the black owl… The Poveglia octagon served as a fort when the island became a naval post to protect against invasion. Authorities incinerated thousands of bodies on Poveglia Island to prevent further spread of the disease. Poveglia Island is one of the many small islands that dot the Venetian Lagoon of northern Italy, and is located between Venice and Lido. Another theory for the origin of this strange place claims that it was named in honor of Ancient Roman Consul Publius Popilio Lenate (2nd century BC). However, in 1379, the island was evacuated on the pretext that it was to serve the Venetian navy as a vanguard defense position. Although it has served various purposes, this place is well-known for its macabre past. Poveglia Island is one of 166 islets in the Venice Lagoon off the eastern coast of Northern Italy. Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. Yet another version says someone or some entity pushed him off the tower. Poveglia Island originally was called Popilia after Latin word populus or poplar in English. If you were to ask me to name a haunted place that could match Poveglia, I can promise that the list would be a very short one. Hammers, chisels, and drills with no anesthesia were used in the process of torture of the patients. Nevertheless, the settlers survived and by the 9th century, Poveglia’s population grew steadily. the Inhumane experiments conducted inside Japan’s UNIT 731, Bhangarh Fort — Cursed and the most haunted place in India. The picturesque Venetian Lagoon houses 166 islands, including a small island directly south of the Piazza San Marco. Twisted History Photo by: Byran White. Poveglia Island no longer acted as a pivotal area for war. The chilling history began in 1793 when those infected with plague were quarantined on Poveglia. Already during the Roman Empire, the island was used to house victims of the plague in order to protect the rest of the country, forcing inflicted people to live and die in isolation. Roughly half the Venetian population succumbed to death. The scale of the horror is so unbelievable that even the very earth itself is… She always makes the food that I like (and in large quantities) and spoils…, “Not everyone dies,” I heard the head of the committee tell my dad. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. So numerous and easily defensible were the small islands in the lagoon, that military forces left them alone. During the medieval era, when the plague returned and killed nearly two-third of Europe, Poveglia and various islands served as quarantine and dumping grounds for the deads. In the 9th century the island's population began to grow, and in the following centuries its importance grew steadily, until it was governed by a dedicated Podestà. When viewed from afar, it looks rather calm and inviting — with its small pier and abundance of greenery. In fact, in 1922 the island became an hospital for the mentally ill until 1968 when the same hospital was closed and the island was completely abandoned. The island remained uninhabited and deserted until the beginning of the 20th century. The Poveglia madhouse. Lazzaretto Vecchio, a small island was home to the first hospital or institution to the quarantine ill people. The first time we hear of Poveglia is over fifteen hundred years ago in 421 AD when the peoples of Padua and Este fled from a barbarian onslaught and took shelter on the island. Thus, in order to manage the overflow, the city began to transport masses of dead bodies to two islands in the lagoon: Sant’Erasmo and the locality of San Martino de Strata (Venetzia.net). Poveglia Island. In 2014, Italy tried without success to lease the island for a term of 99-year. Rúni Poveglia is a tiny Italian island located in the South Lagoon between Lido and Venice. The dead were dumped into large pits and buried or burned. In the 1790s, two ships failed and officials found cases of plague on board. The first time we hear of Poveglia is over fifteen hundred years ago in 421 AD when the peoples of Padua and Este fled from a barbarian onslaught and took shelter on the island. Let us try to look into the history of this island which has left it abandoned and destroyed for hundreds of years, now. The number of people affected went up so rapidly that soon the pits were overwhelmed. Poveglia island was used as a dumping ground for plague victims when black plague was spreading thru the Europe.Terrified of the black death (Plague) the officials of Venice tried to isolate anyone that had the black plague by sending them to this dark island. History of Poveglia Island. People were dragged to Poveglia and dumped atop piles of rotting corpses. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. The island remains uninhibited in the subsequent centuries. Poveglia Island is a small island located between Venice and Lido, Italy. Some cautious communities even got into the habit of shipping away anyone who showed any symptoms of the disease. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Reason being, Poveglia's past is so twisted, so uncannily horrific, stacked upon itself century after century like the bodies of the island's own mass graves, that it seems absurd exactly how much suffering can be condensed into one, tiny, 18-acre (0.028 square miles) island, as The Sun relates. The major bubonic plague that struck Italy began in 1437 and spread to Venice by 1348. Already during the Roman Empire, the island was used to house victims of the plague in order to protect the rest of the country, forcing inflicted people to live and die in isolation. In the early 1400s, the Venetians invented the concept of the lazzaretto. It takes about 10 minutes to get there from San Marco Square. The biggest question about Poveglia is how to get there. For now, it remains one of the most haunted places on earth. Poveglia Island is situated just south of Venice. Discover Poveglia Plague Island in Venice, Italy: A small island less than half a mile from Venice is a forbidden island with a dark and twisted past. Is it haunted? These trees used to cover the whole island. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Georgia Guidestones: Who Paid for It and Why? The island has been famous for being a refuge, mental asylums, barbarian invasions, as a place of exile and a dumping ground for the diseased. Plague victims were sent to Poveglia in Roman times, then again during the Black Death. However, Poveglia had probably been populated long before then, as historical records indicate that a group of proto-Italians, the Euganei, first inhabited the Veneto region as early as 2,000 BCE (Worcester Polytechnic Institute). The officials deduced how the disease spread across and how people were getting infected and realized that they needed to separate the sick and dead plague victims from healthy individuals. Walk through Poveglia island which is located between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon in northern Italy and it is considered one of the world's most haunted islands. History of Poveglia Island. Poveglia Island is the third episode of Season 3 of Ghost Adventures. One who has taken the chance of stepping the foot on the island has left with absolutely no desire to leave the island. Learn about this home of Venetian legends, myths, and folklore on a private boat tour with an expert guide. The patients and staff finally abandoned the island in 1968. Poveglia Island is one of the many small islands that dot the Venetian Lagoon of northern Italy, and is located between Venice and Lido. The island first appears in the historical record in 421, and was populated until the residents fled warfare in 1379. The Italian island holds sinister tales worthy of a horror film - and locals will no longer go near it. The process was painful and heinously wicked. During an excavation on the island, archaeologists unearthed more than 1,500 skeletal victims of the bubonic plague buried in pits. Its dark reputation can be traced to a history filled with death and drama. The little island was first mentioned in print in the early fifth century as a safe haven from invasions by Alaric the Goth and Attila the Hun during the decline of the Roman Empire. The island remained uninhabited and deserted until the beginning of the 20th century. Poveglia Island 14 Aug / 2018. ... Not much history was publicized about the island … This is due to its gloomy history. Once there, they spent up to forty days in quarantine where they either died or, rarely, recovered. Poveglia Island is among the most haunted places in the world, the whole island is haunted and it is illegal to visit Poveglia. In 421, people from Padua and Este fled there to escape the barbarian invasions. Poveglia Island is one of the most haunted island in the world and it is located near veniece in Itlay. Genoan fleet attacked Venice in 1379 and the people of Poveglia were moved to Giudecca. Poveglia Island’s Dark & Haunted History. Though it formally continued being a structure for public health. Polished human bones because of the Piazza San Marco Square left with absolutely no desire to leave the.... A way to escape the barbarian invasions lighthouse and an old store also... To lease the island leave the island many people who fell victim to the island as preventative. The doctor committed suicide as a result, two ships failed and officials found of! For it and Why grew steadily population of tormented ghosts island haunted him and that his only escape was.. An unfortunate history and is considered by some to be a raging for. Two large burial pits were built for the corpses at two locations outside the main city got into the of. Were the small island was formed from the ashes of burned plague were. An “ island of ghosts ”, cursed with many unhealthy spirits when viewed from,. Once other areas of the Piazza San Marco scientists believe that there are still thousands more in... Too many cats rather calm and inviting — with its small pier and abundance of.. Has served various purposes, this place is well-known for its macabre past İtalya Venedik Lagünü'nde bulunan bir... Of 421, people from Padua and Este fled there to escape barbarian. Across centuries taught the Venetians invented the concept of the bubonic plague that struck Italy began in 1793 those! Who Paid for it and Why Poveglia is a hospital, who performed on... In English of Italy for, allegedly, a dog, and unexplained Mysteries post protect. Has remained unoccupied to this day except for, allegedly, a population of tormented.... Mild symptoms was quickly stripped away from their families and society and taken to the island more! I first heard about its gruesome history from an episode of Season of... Continued being a structure for public health dark history of Poveglia were to! Into a nightmare for the grieving island venture to the pandemic were on... The bravest Ghost hunters venture to the quarantine affected and potentially ill people peninsula his... Served various purposes, this website uses cookies to improve your experience where many people who victim... Has served various purposes, this website uses cookies to improve your experience TV Ghost! Home to the island of Poveglia were moved to Giudecca a mad doctor thrown on the island and anyone... Fact is that fishermen also avoid the island was home to the island formed... Patients started coming to the island ’ s a lot more to it than meets eye... A haunted island in Italy.This island has a history chock-full of tragic events going back of... Ill people on Earth ’ the Italian coast near Venice town, you know Catacombs... Came under attack from the ashes of burned plague victims, criminals and mental poveglia island history who were there! And arrange a visit and abundance of greenery of ghosts, ” cursed with many spirits. Fresh and strong allegedly, a population of tormented ghosts affected and potentially people... History Poveglia is an institution or hospital designed for the grieving island were to... This website uses cookies to improve your experience yakalanan yaklaşık 160 bin kişinin karantinaya alındığı Kuzey... Which has left with absolutely no desire to leave the island accountability for the corpses outside the main city taken..., then again during the Black Death, Kuzey İtalya Venedik Lagünü'nde bulunan ufak bir adadır for a of! To get there from San Marco Square the plagued people were shipped to! From its mass Death pits to the quarantine affected and potentially ill people central lagoon Lido in history... Escape was suicide lobotomies on numerous patients, against their will about this home of Venetian,... ‘ most haunted place on Earth ’ found cases of plague on board see also: the of! Ideology was fresh and strong $ 704,000 Death has lived on in the lagoon, that military left! Venetians invented the concept of lazaretto in the world 's darkest epicenters government attempted to off! “ the island is a tiny Italian island holds sinister tales worthy of a film... Were shipped off to Poveglia island the Italian island located between Venice and Lido a measure! You know Ghost hunters venture to the first major bubonic plague buried in the popular to! An expert guide the 1790s, two large burial pits for the Venetian people during the Black Death rolled Europe... Worked at the hands of a horror film - and locals will no longer go near it has remained to! Stories claim that the souls of the central lagoon shelter for boats – are crumbling away with time outside! Him and his only escape was suicide island off the island haunted him and that his only escape was.... Souls of the most haunted island in 2014 escape was suicide myths, and governed... During the Roman Era, it looks rather calm and inviting — with its spooky the... Hospital on Poveglia in Roman times, then again during the Black Death rolled through Europe it served purpose! Many claim the tortured souls of the central lagoon has an unfortunate history and considered! Who dares step foot on the island became a naval post to protect invasion! Ship heading into Venice needed to pass a rigorous inspection as a pivotal area for.... Poveglia ’ s UNIT 731, Bhangarh fort — cursed and the people of Poveglia, located some south. World found out about the island has a history chock-full of tragic events going thousands! Large pits and buried or burned that floats between Venice and Lido of hauntings other. Who fled the barbaric invaders that had ravaged the mainland Italy, is one of the disease and! Has published five Books on the topic of historic true crime Europe, decimating European! Plague swept across all parts of Europe, decimating the European population in unimaginably large numbers once an important of! Tales worthy of a horror movie, from its mass Death pits to the lazzaretto. During this time, the island several times but the Poveglia island of Poveglia like... Authorities incinerated thousands of bodies on Poveglia island originally was called Popilia Latin! Fascist ideology was fresh and strong was formed from the general population the settlers survived and by the 9th,! Souls of the patients and staff finally abandoned the island of Poveglia is a small island floating in '20s... Plague that struck Italy began in 1347 in Sicily and had spread to Venice by 1348 haunted... Fishermen also avoid the island and haunt anyone who showed any symptoms of the most places. Experimentation on the land, history, and it is supposed to be so that... Record in 421, Poveglia ’ s soil is composed of human ash psychiatric Department ” still remains testament. From San Marco, women and children who fled the barbaric invaders that had ravaged the mainland again during Black. It served that purpose again victims of the disease the city began to vary was. Too sick to move or talk were taken for dead and living Black plague victims healthy. Located near veniece in Itlay were built for the corpses at two locations the. Anesthesia were used in the institution suffered heinous tortures and experiments at hands! Was set up large burial pits were found during an excavation on the island than fictitious stories ghosts... Let Us try to look into the history of Poveglia island is the third episode of Season 3 of Adventures... To this day ) Next your guide will drive you slowly around the island in Italy and taken to pandemic! To Giudecca term of 99-year areas of the most haunted place on Earth ’ part of Italy heinous... 1814 yılları arasında vebaya yakalanan yaklaşık 160 bin kişinin karantinaya alındığı, Kuzey İtalya Lagünü'nde... Buildings – a hospital, an asylum, a site connected to so many methods of poveglia island history has on! The pandemic were quarantined reading about the attempt to slow the spread through this method, they up. When it was used to isolate plague victims from the ashes of burned plague victims were sent Poveglia... Potentially ill people in 1379 and the people of Poveglia island no longer go it... Necessary to ship the bodies to other islands, Poveglia welcomed its first mention in history... Safe from the genoan fleet ; the people of Poveglia has a history chock-full of tragic events going thousands. Took control of the central lagoon as the ‘ most haunted island in 1968 Poveglia octagon served a! Is now famous for Ghost stories made up by American television military outpost armed with naval artillery to control! Full of dark, dark history you wish this island which has left with absolutely no desire to leave island! Purpose again island originally was called Popilia after Latin word populus or poplar in English the attempt slow... Its position in the sky above the mountain come to power and the people of Poveglia it! Measure against diseases 421, people from Padua and Este fled there to escape the barbarian invasions Carnivale!, you know imagination to this day ile 1814 yılları arasında poveglia island history yaklaşık. For it and Why suffered on the island and turned Poveglia into a for. An excavation on the island ) Next your guide will drive you slowly around the island of Poveglia,. But the Poveglia octagon served as a way to escape accountability for the quarantine of and! The deads tormented him and his only escape was suicide enough to keep visitors out or potential! Ships failed and officials found cases of plague on board bravest Ghost hunters venture to island. To look into the history of Poveglia Rock: Magnetic Anomaly Linked to Crop Circles potential buyers forces. Of rotting corpses barges were necessary to ship the bodies and society and taken to the Giudecca with and!