Italy has an impressive collection of ghosts. The country is home to ancient ruins, medieval castles, old palaces, underground crypts, and abandoned villages. Its supernatural stories include murdered nobles, plague victims, and at least one island with an evil reputation. These are eight of Italy’s most famously haunted places.
Poveglia Island — Venice
Poveglia might be the most notorious haunted place in Italy. The small island in the Venetian Lagoon was once used as a quarantine area during outbreaks of plague. It was later the place of a psychiatric hospital. Its actual history has mixed with more outrageous tales, including the story of an evil doctor who experimented on patients. There is no historical evidence that this doctor ever existed. However, fishermen have described yelling, phantom people, and an oppressive feeling surrounding the island. Even though the ghostly claims are unsubstantiated, the abandoned buildings are really eerie. The island is not open to regular tourism, which adds to its mysterious reputation.
Colosseum — Rome
Considering what took place inside the Colosseum, a few ghost stories are in order. Countless gladiators, prisoners, and animals died during “shows” put on in the large amphitheater. Visitors and workers have reported numerous unexplained experiences in the ancient passageways. Some hear cheering crowds, others solitary cries. With its 2,000 years of history, the Colosseum is downright ominous, especially after dark.
Palazzo Vecchio — Florence
Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio is simply magnificent. It also has strong ties to the ghost of Baldaccio d’Anghiari, a 15th-century military leader. He was brutally murdered inside the palace in 1441. Historical accounts state that Baldaccio was attacked, thrown from a window, and then beheaded. And many believe he never left the premises and appears in the form of a shadowy figure. The palace itself is mysterious, containing secret passages and hidden rooms. Touring Palazzo Vecchio feels like walking through a Renaissance legend.
Castello di Montebello — Emilia-Romagna
Montebello Castle is best known for the legend of a little girl named Azzurrina. According to the story, an albino child went missing inside the castle on June 21, 1375. Her body was supposedly never found. Legend claims that every five years during the summer solstice, the child comes back to visit the place of her untimely death. During this time, sounds resembling a child’s voice drift through the castle. Recordings made there have been offered as evidence of the ghost, although skeptics claim more practical explanations for the sounds.
Palazzo Mastelli — Venice
Venice already looks a bit haunted on a foggy evening, and Palazzo Mastelli comes with an appropriately spooky backstory. According to folklore, three rich merchant brothers tried to scam a woman in a business deal. However, they cheated the wrong person, as she was a witch. As punishment, she turned them to stone. Nearby statues are said to be what remains of brothers Rioba, Sandi, and Alfani. If you’re looking for a centuries-old Venetian palace with petrified siblings out front, this is the place for you.
Castello di Fénis — Aosta Valley
Fénis Castle is both stunning and eerie, featuring stone towers, battlements, and Alpine scenery. One ghost story involves a young boy who was murdered by his stepmother so her biological son could inherit the family’s wealth. She supposedly hid his body somewhere in the castle, but his spirit never left. Visitors say the child moves objects around, mainly in the castle’s kitchens. Like many medieval castles, Fénis has legends that are difficult to trace back, but that hasn’t stopped it from being considered one of Italy’s most haunted castles.
Ca’ Dario — Venice
This Renaissance palace on Venice’s Grand Canal is beautiful, but it has one of the city’s darkest backstories. Ca’ Dario is widely known as a “cursed palace.” A shocking number of owners, and people associated with the palace, experienced major financial issues, violent deaths, or other personal tragedies. Some say it’s coincidence; others say the building brings terrible luck to anyone associated with it. Some former residents even died by suicide, adding more fuel to the story. Despite being a gorgeous piece of real estate, many would refuse to own it for fear of being cursed.
Abbey of San Galgano — Tuscany
The crumbling ruins of San Galgano Abbey are haunting, even before you hear any ghostly stories. The 13th-century Gothic abbey was used for years before being abandoned. Today, the massive stone walls are open to the sky. Locals say it is haunted by former monks, and that spectral figures move through the ruins. Nearby Montesiepi Chapel adds even more strangeness to the setting. In this location, you’ll find an ancient sword in a stone, which is tied to Saint Galgano. If someone envisioned a haunted medieval location, it would probably look a lot like this monastery.