The Venice Island Nobody Visits

Poveglia was once a bustling farming community, but it transformed into a desolate quarantine station for plague victims and later a psychiatric hospital. It has remained largely abandoned for decades, fueling stories that it is haunted.

For over a century, thousands of ships were held here to prevent disease from reaching Venice. This gruesome history earned it a reputation as one of the most forbidden places in Italy. While it was home to a geriatric hospital until 1968, the island has since been reclaimed by nature and overgrown ruins. Now, there are finally efforts to turn this tragic landmark into a public park.