A real closed plague island in Venice (7 photos)
This forgotten island is located just a few kilometers from the famous Grand Canal of Venice. However, for some reason it happened that he always served some dark purposes. Here, the mass burial of people was first carried out during the plague, and then the island was used to treat patients with mental illness. 
Poveglia Island, Venice
Due to the large number of deaths on the island, it is sometimes called the most haunted place on the planet. Sometimes it is even called "Bloody Island". 
Poveglia Island, Venice
Local residents do not want to talk about the mysterious island and, when asked about it, they claim that there is nothing mystical here, and they do not believe in the myths about it and are not afraid of anyone. However, they do not tell guests from other countries about the island’s past.
And the country’s government is trying to change the reputation of Poveglia Island - it is known that once it was even planned to build a boarding house here, for which the island was put up for auction. But, apparently, no one dared to buy the island. 
Poveglia Island, Venice
However, the buildings here are gradually being destroyed, and the island itself is overgrown, and visiting it is officially prohibited. But this does not scare paranormal hunters, who are found in this place quite often - they arrive on boats to feel the atmosphere of this place.
Poveglia began to be settled back in the 5th century, when Italians tried to hide on the island from the invasion of barbarians. Later, in order to save the inhabitants from attacks by the Genoese fleet, they were moved to another island, and Poveglia became empty. 
Poveglia Island, Venice
In 1645, the Venetian government created an artificial island in the form of an octagon in the southern part of Poveglia - this is an artillery fort. It is still one of the “calling cards” of the island.
In 1793, a special quarantine facility was created on the island, which was called Lazaretto (Lazzaretto - as you know, the word infirmary comes from the so-called “disease of St. Lazarus,” that is, leprosy), for sailors arriving from distant countries. The island was used for this purpose for about twenty years, and then was forgotten again until the outbreak of the bubonic plague. 
Poveglia Island, Venice
Then the island of Poveglia was turned into a burial place for many victims of the disease. At a time when all of Europe was suffering from the plague, not only the dead, but also living people were brought here. Even children and women were not spared.
All sick people were simply thrown into pits or burned in an attempt to stop the spread of the disease. According to rough estimates, more than 160 thousand people were buried (or rather burned) on the island. It is said that the ground on the island is still covered with a layer of ash from the burning of such a huge number of bodies. 
Poveglia Island, Venice
In 1922, the island of Poveglia was remembered again - and a psychiatric hospital was built on the island. As often happened in such institutions of those times, experiments were carried out on patients here. It is believed that during the Mussolini regime, undesirables and enemies of the authorities were sent here.
The head doctor of the hospital is especially famous, who conducted experiments on patients that were more like torture. He later died mysteriously by committing suicide (by jumping from a bell tower). The hospital was closed, and after its unsuccessful reconstruction, entry to the island was generally prohibited. 
Poveglia Island, Venice
Now even local fishermen do not fish here. But some tourists still manage to get onto the island. Upon their return, they tell terrible stories - how they heard frightening screams and screams, felt that they were being watched, heard the ringing of a bell that has long been no longer on the island. But to believe them or not is an open question.
