The World’s Most Forbidden Places

Poveglia Island, Italy

In the waters of the Venetian Lagoon lies an island that has been dubbed one of the most haunted places in the world – Poveglia Island. The small island has a dark and gruesome history, having served as a quarantine station during the bubonic plague in the 18th century and a mental asylum in the 20th century.

The brutal treatment of the sick and the mentally ill is said to have left a residue of paranormal activity on the island, and numerous sightings of ghosts and other supernatural phenomena have been reported over the years. Despite its notoriety, the Italian government has banned visitors from setting foot on the island, with only a few authorized personnel permitted to access its shores. The decaying ruins of the asylum and the abandoned chapel add to the eerie atmosphere, making Poveglia Island a place that is both fascinating and terrifying.