"" Writer's Wanderings: This Venetian Island Wasn't On Our Tour

Friday, August 15, 2014

This Venetian Island Wasn't On Our Tour

We've only been to Venice once and fell in love with its charm. We visited the islands of Murano and Burano to see the glassblowing and the lace making but no one told us about another island only a ten minute water taxi ride from St. Mark's Square. It's called Poveglia and has been labeled the most haunted place in the world. It recently went up for sale but I didn't hear if there were any takers.

Poveglia was home to a mental hospital for many years said to have housed a doctor who did weird experiments. Across the island from the hospital is what is called the plague pit. It is where they brought those who fell victim to the Bubonic plague.

Legends and tales abound about the island and of course the usual ghost sightings reported by the locals. One intrepid traveler, Robin Saikai, ventured onto the island with a photographer to do a story about it. She reports it here at her blog and includes a video taken from a boat as she traversed the island on the channel that cuts it in two.

Striding Peter, an amputee ghost, Laughing Man, and Staring Anna are a few of the ghosts mentioned in Saikai's report. It sounds like a real life haunted house that isn't just for Halloween. So who'll offer the first bid? Going, going. . . .

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...